Tough Twenty20 draw, and a new coach

It has been great to read all the comments in reply to my last blog and have so much interest in the fortunes of the team. Unfortunately, the arrangements for playing in England haven't worked out this year but I am very keen to try and play next summer.

I am very excited about today's announcement on the ICC World Twenty20 2009. It has been officially confirmed that we will be playing in a joint event with the men next year, with the semis and final of the women's event taking place as a curtain-raiser to the men's event.

Normally I am glued to the action whenever Pakistan's men are playing in an international event, so to be part of the same event is going to be an incredible feeling.

The draw is very tough for us, as we struggled against India and Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup, but hopefully we will have improved in time for then.

I am looking forward to having the opportunity to seeing some of the stars of the game, who I have read about but never played against. While I have played against India and Sri Lanka many times before, I have never played Australia or New Zealand.

It's quite strange knowing all the stats about some of the top players, but not really knowing their style of batting or bowling, as there is so little women's cricket on television at the moment.

Obviously we have the World Cup before then and that will obviously provide a great opportunity to see how people approach their batting and bowling. But both ICC events in 2009 are a long way off for the moment, so there are other things to focus upon for the moment.

Judging by some of the comments on the blog, plenty of people think I have some work to do on my game, so they will be pleased to know I now have my own coach to really help me develop my batting. I thought this was the best solution given that my plans to go to England hadn't worked out. I have been working for three hours a day on my batting, which has been supported by a vigorous training programme which has been designed for me by my fitness trainer.

Quite a few of the girls are undergoing similar regimes and I am pleased to report that my training is beginning to pay dividends with some good scores in some of the matches I have played recently.

I hope I will be able to translate this form to the next domestic competition, which starts in July, which will hopefully provide the opportunity for some of the most talented players from a junior camp, which takes place later this month, to be exposed to a national competition.

Until then, it is more batting and bowling practice, yet more waiting for my dentistry results, a diving holiday in Thailand and day dreams of success in the World Twenty20.