Women's Cricket: Pauline Te Beest to lead Holland against Pakistan in ODI series

With Australia engaged in India; Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand in Sharjah; South Africa in the West Indies and the minnows Bangladesh in Zimbabwe, the euphoria of cricket has reached its peak, so much so that it has also dragged in women cricketers.

The Dutch cricket team, led by Pauline te Beest, will arrive in Pakistan to play seven one-day internationals with their Pakistani counterparts, of which two would be day-night affairs.

The seven-match series gets underway with a day-night match between the two teams at the National Stadium, Karachi on April 9. The remaining six matches will also be played at the same venue.

The veteran Shaiza Khan who is also the president of Pakistan Women Cricket Control Association (PWCCA) leads the home team. Her sister, Sharmeen Khan, will be the vice-captain. Both sisters are experienced campaigners and have earlier represented the country in a number of series and tournaments.

Mr. Mazhar Alam, a foreign qualified coach, is currently working with the Pakistan women's team in a bid to improve the various aspects of the game, especially the players' fielding.

Speaking at the logo unveiling ceremony-cum-press conference held in Karachi a few days ago, Mr. Mazhar expressed the hope that the team will perform well against the visiting Dutch side. "The players are working hard at the moment, and they will pose a tough challenge to the opposition," he added.

Talking on the occasion, Shaiza Khan showed confidence upon the members of her squad. She asserted that the team was a blend of youth and experience and "I am confident of their abilities." She thanked the Pakistan Cricket Board "for permitting us to use the National Stadium for the series."

All the matches of the series will be played at the National Stadium. Sindh education minister Anita Ghulam Ali will be the chief guest in the first one-dayer, whereas the Governor of the province Mr. Mohammad Mian Somroo will honour with his presence the sixth match of the series.

The matches of the series will be played on April 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21, with the first and the last to be played under lights.

CricInfo, the home of cricket on the Internet, has the honour of covering live all the matches of the series. So log on to CricInfo for live and exclusive coverage of Holland-Pakistan women's cricket.