3 players who can replace Bismah Maroof as Pakistan’s captain

Bismah Maroof. (Photo by Harry Trump-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

Following Pakistan’s dismal show in the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa under her leadership, Bismah Maroof stepped down as a skipper. In the tournament, the Women in Green lost three of their four matches and failed to qualify for the knockout stage. The 31-year-old captained her national side for more than five years and delivered some incredible moments to the team’s fans with her leadership skills.

However, the veteran has now decided to quit the captaincy, and clear the way for her younger colleagues to lead the team. After her resignation, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will look forward to handing the captaincy mantle to an experienced player who could deliver to the team believing in her leadership qualities. Currently, there are a few names whom the PCB could bank on as they are serving Pakistan as players for a long time.

Talking more about it, here are three players who could replace Bismah Maroof as Pakistan’s skipper

3. Javeria Khan

Javeria Khan. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Javeria Khan is one of the most experienced players in the current Pakistan squad. She is active in international cricket since 2008 and has played a lot of impactful knocks for her team. So far, Javeria has scored more than 4,900 runs with her bat in 228 international games.

In One-Day Internationals (ODIs), the 34-year-old has notched up 2,885 runs with two tons and 15 half-centuries in 116 appearances. Talking about her batting numbers in the shortest format of the game, the veteran has hit 2,018 runs with 10 fifties in 112 matches. She has also played in three ODI World Cups and eight T20 World Cups.

Back in the 2018 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, she led the team as the regular skipper Bismah Maoof had decided to stay away from captaincy. She got a chance to captain the side in the 2021 Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament held in Zimbabwe. Looking at her previous experience as a skipper, the board could hand the reins of the team to her.

2. Sidra Ameen

Sidra Ameen. (Photo Source: Getty Images)

Sidra Ameen is a vital member of the Pakistan team due to her experience and talent. As a top-order batter, she has served the team efficiently with her fantastic batting performances. In 2022, she notched up three ODI centuries and snatched the record of scoring the most centuries for Pakistan in the format from her teammate Javeria Khan.

Till now, the veteran’s record is phenomenal as she has amassed 1,321 runs in 54 ODIs. In T20Is, she has added 493 runs to her profile with two half-centuries in 36 games. With these numbers and experience, she could be one of the favourites to fill the boots of Pakistan’s skipper.

In 2022, she looked amazing with her bat, smashing 697 runs with three tons and two half-centuries in 13 ODIs. The 30-year-old Pakistan stalwart also became the Player of the Month award winner for her stupendous performance in the month of November.

1. Aliya Riaz

Aliya Riaz (Photo Source: Twitter)

Aliya Riaz has bagged a lot of games for Pakistan using her superb match-finishing ability. Since 2014, she has been contributing to the team as an ideal batting all-rounder. With her potential to hit the ball cleanly, she strengthens the lower middle order of the team with her bat.

Till now, Riaz has accumulated 784 runs with a half-century in 72 T20I at a strike rate of 92.45.  In T20Is, the veteran has piled up 985 runs with six half-centuries in 53 ODIs at a strike rate of 63.75. Talking about her bowling, the 30-year-old has trapped 25 batters using her medium-pace as a weapon.

With her numbers and experience in international cricket, she might become a reliable option for PCB to fill the post of skipper. In the domestic circle, she captained PCB Blasters in the PCB Women’s Twenty20 Tournament, and considering that, the board and the team management may not hesitate to assign her the role of a skipper to lead the side.

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