ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s right-handed batter Aliya Riaz has expressed satisfaction with the preparations of the national women’s team for an upcoming series against Australia, said a statement released by the country’s cricket board on Thursday.
The Pakistan women’s cricket team is currently visiting Australia to play three One-Day Internationals (ODIs), which are part of the ICC Women’s Cricket Championship 2022-25, and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). The three ODIs will be played on January 16, 18, and 21, while the T20Is will be held on January 24, 26, and 29.
Commenting on the upcoming series, Riaz, who reached Brisbane with her other teammates last week, said the Pakistani squad was “well prepared” to take on the Kangaroos.
“The team is well prepared for the series against Australia and our coaches are paying attention towards polishing players’ individual skills,” a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) statement quoted her as saying.
Prior to the commencement of the series, the team will also play a 50-over match against Australia’s Governor-General’s XI squad on Friday.
The Governor-General’s XI match is a traditional fixture in the calendar that has returned for the first time since the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic to pit some of Australia’s finest young and experienced talent against a touring team.
“Tomorrow’s match against Governor General XI will be very good as it would allow us to prepare for the series,” Riaz said. “It will also give us an idea of the ground and the pitch.”
The Pakistani batter added the Green Shirts will “try to fight well” throughout the series and aim for good results.
“The T20 series against Australia before the World Cup will help us a lot to prepare for the grand tournament and we will prepare well,” she continued.
Following the series, the team will fly to South Africa for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023.
SCHEDULE OF MATCHES
January 16 – First ODI at Allan Border Field, Brisbane
January 18 – Second ODI at Allan Border Field, Brisbane
January 21 – Third ODI at North Sydney Oval No.1, North Sydney
January 24 – First T20I at North Sydney Oval No.1, North Sydney
January 26 – Second T20I at Blundstone Arena, Hobart
January 29 – Third T20I at Manuka Oval, Canberra
