Women's World Cup preview: Pakistan

The squad: Sana Mir (c), Ayesha Zafar, Nahida Khan, Marina Iqbal, Bismah Maroof, Javeria Khan, Nain Abidi, Sidra Nawaz, Kainat Imtiaz, Asmavia Iqbal Khokhar, Diana Baig, Waheeda Akhtar, Nashra Sandhu, Ghulam Fatima, Sadia Yousuf

Fixtures: June 25 v South Africa, June 27 v England, July 2 v India, July 5 v Australia, July 8 v New Zealand, July 11 v West Indies, July 15 v Sri Lanka.

Best result: 6th (2009)

ICC ranking: 7th

The talking point: Pakistan have not been afraid to make changes ahead of the World Cup, bringing in six new players and signing a new coach for the tournament, with Sabih Azhar replacing Kabir Khan. Wicketkeeper Sidra Nawaz returns after missing the World Cup qualifiers due to injury, alongside medium pacers Asmavia Iqbal and Kainat Imtiaz, allrounders Diana Baig and Marina Iqbal, and uncapped Waheeda Akhtar.

The star: Captain Sana Mir will again lead the way for Pakistan with both bat and ball. One of only seven women worldwide to have scored 1000 ODI runs and taken 100 ODI wickets, her frugal off-spin will go a long way to frustrating opposition batters, while her team will look to her for plenty of middle-order runs. Her 12 years of experience in international cricket will be invaluable to Pakistan’s younger squad members, and help instil confidence against higher-ranked opposition. 

The one to watch: Pakistan’s highest-ranked ODI batter Bismah Maroof has a strong record in English conditions, having two half-centuries and averaging 46 in the UK. The left-hander has scored more than 2,000 one-day runs in her 11-year international career thus far. A young gun to keep an eye on  is 19-year-old left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu, who has made a splash in just five ODIs, taking nine wickets and frustrating batters with her tight, economical bowling.

The verdict: Much like Sri Lanka, Pakistan would likely count a finish in the top six as a good result given their record against the other competing teams – they have never beaten Australia, India, New Zealand or England. However, they upset India in last year’s World T20 and could cause a surprise or two along the way.

Women's World Cup 2017 Guide

Australia World Cup squad: Sarah Aley, Kristen Beams, Alex Blackwell (vc), Nicole Bolton, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Meg Lanning (c), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington

Squads: Every World Cup squad named so far

Australia's World Cup schedule

Warm-up matches

June 20: Australia v South Africa, Oakham

June 22: Australia v Pakistan, Leicester

Tournament

June 26: Australia v West Indies, Taunton

June 29: Sri Lanka v Australia, Bristol

July 2: Australia v New Zealand, Bristol

July 5: Pakistan v Australia, Leicester

July 9: England vAustralia, Bristol

July 12: Australia v India, Bristol

July 15: South Africa v Australia, Taunton

July 18: First semi-final, Bristol

July 20: Second semi-final, Derby

July 23: Final, Lord's