PCB replaces Sana Mir as the Pakistan women's team skipper

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in a bid to revamp the structure and face of women’s cricket in the country has made a list of decisions one among which is the appointment of a new skipper for the ODI team. Sana Mir who was the captain of the team in ODIs will be replaced by Bismah Maroof. Maroof is already the captain of the T20I team and will now lead both the teams in limited-overs cricket.

After a dismal show in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017, where the team failed to register a single victory, the board initiated an enquiry. All the important members of the team management from the captain, coach to the team manager and chief selector were interviewed and asked to file a report each.

Change in leadership

Acting on the findings the selection committee has also been disbanded, the board will also put up an advertisement for the post of a General Manager of Women Cricket. “Change in the leadership of women wing. Search for a new GM Women Cricket will be started through an ad in the newspaper.

“Change in Team Manager. A new Team Manager will be appointed in due course meanwhile Ms. Ayesha Ashhar is being given an interim charge of women wing till such time an appointment of GM Women Cricket is made,” a PCB press release stated.

Najam Sethi hopes the decisions made are able to transform women’s cricket in Pakistan. He lauded Sana for her contribution but stated that the decisions they made were after a lot of deliberation and in the best interest of the team.

Chairman PCB Mr. Najam Sethi stated, “These are well thought out decisions taken after a comprehensive internal review. I am hopeful that we will transform women cricket into a well-knit unit both on field and at the management level. Sana Mir has great contributions towards Pakistan’s Women cricket. She has played an instrumental role for women’s cricket in Pakistan. She has led the team with great respect and had always used her best abilities to serve women’s team.”

Sana had been at loggerheads with the board in the recent past as she denied to attend the training camp under new coach Mark Coles (for New Zealand series) and also didn’t undergo a fitness test. She wrote PCB an email and stated: “I believe this women’s wing management has compromised players’ respect, merit, and physical and mental well being. I am not willing to work in this set-up unless things change for the betterment of women’s cricket.”

Pakistan women’s team’s next appointment is the 5-match ODI series in New Zealand starting November 9.