(Source X)
Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has offered his initial thoughts following Pakistan’s narrow defeat against hosts Sri Lanka in the Women’s Asia Cup 2024 semi-final at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. Despite having opportunities slip through their grasp, Pakistan couldn’t maintain their grip on the game, leading to their elimination from the tournament.
In the aftermath of the match, jubilation filled the Sri Lankan dressing room as players and support staff celebrated their triumph. The stadium reverberated with cheers from a packed audience, all rallying behind the home team throughout the fiercely contested encounter.
Conversely, anguish overshadowed the Pakistani camp where emotions ran deep. Players visibly felt the heartbreak of coming agonizingly close to securing a spot in the final, only to fall short. The support staff worked tirelessly to console and uplift the disappointed team members amidst the aftermath of this closely fought match.
Mohsin Naqvi responds to Pakistan Women’s heartbreaking loss.
Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), expressed his immediate thoughts following the match, commending the team for their tenacity until the final ball. He encouraged the players to maintain their spirits and look ahead positively. Naqvi conveyed his best wishes to the team for their future endeavors, emphasizing resilience and determination as key attributes in their journey ahead.
“Absolutely proud of the Pakistan women’s cricket team! You fought with heart and determination till the very last ball. Winning and losing are both part of the game, but what truly matters is the spirit and resilience you displayed,” Mohsin Naqvi posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“You have lived up to the nation’s expectations and made us all proud. Keep your heads high; you have our unwavering support. Best of luck for the future,” he added.
Pakistan’s disappointment continued as they succumbed to their second consecutive semi-final defeat against Sri Lanka in the Women’s Asia Cup. In the previous edition of the tournament held in Bangladesh, Pakistan had narrowly lost to Sri Lanka by just 1 run in the semi-final encounter.
Sri Lanka defeats Pakistan in consecutive Women’s Asia Cup semi-finals.
In the match, Pakistan Women set a competitive total of 140-4 in their allotted 20 overs. Gull Feroza and Muneeba Ali provided a solid foundation with a promising opening stand, but Pakistan faced a slowdown in the middle overs. The innings regained momentum in the final overs, thanks to crucial contributions from Nida Dar and Fatima Sana lower down the order. Sri Lanka’s Udeshika Prabodhani and Kavisha Dilhari impressed with two wickets each.
Chasing 141 for victory, Sri Lanka Women faced an early setback with the dismissal of Vishmi Gunaratne. However, skipper Chamari Athapaththu anchored the innings with determination. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Athapaththu’s resilient 63-run innings off 48 balls, comprising 9 fours and 1 six, kept Sri Lanka in contention. Anushka Sanjeewani played a crucial role, steering Sri Lanka to victory with a composed innings till the end.
With this win, Sri Lanka Women secured their place in the final against India Women, scheduled to be held at the same venue on 28th July.
