Pak-West Indies series: Pak bowler Anam aims to perform to a higher level

Anam has been Pakistan’s most successful bowler against the West Indies

LAHORE (Dunya News) – Anam Amin made her debut for Pakistan in T20Is in 2014 and since has been a regular feature in the national side because of her exploits with the ball.

Her ability to deliver results with the new ball by making inroads early on make her a potent weapon for any captain and when Pakistan begin their tour with the first of the three T20Is at the picturesque Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Javeria Khan will be hoping that the left-arm orthodox rises to the occasion.

Anam has been Pakistan’s most successful bowler against the West Indies – taking 13 wickets at a phenomenal 10.53 runs per dismissal. Her strike rate of 12.4 is the best she has against any opposition.

Her best bowling figures in T20Is have also been against West Indies when she took four wickets for 16 runs at Chennai in an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2016 fixture. Such was her brilliance with the ball that despite her team losing the contest, Anam was awarded the player of the match award. While captains at both international and domestic levels have relied heavily to deliver the results, the 28-year-old becomes even more threatening when her side is defending a total.

In the matches Pakistan have successfully defended scores, Anam has taken 19 wickets at 11.57, has struck every 17th ball and given only 4.07 runs an over. These numbers are more than eight runs, five balls and 1.33 runs better, respectively, compared to her overall T20I career.

Anam re-entered the top-ten of the ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings following the South Africa T20I series in which she took four wickets at 16.50 and was the leading wicket-taker from her side. The 28-year-old is looking forward to taking on the West Indies.

“My strength is bowling dots upfront,” Anam, who is 9th in the ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings, said on Sunday . “The key is bowling with accuracy and keep the batter guessing. The new ball turns and skids so there is a lot of reward for hitting the right lines and lengths. I make sure that I continue to target my areas on the pitch and mix up my spells with variations here and there to make sure that the batter does not settle.”

The two sides last met in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia in what was Pakistan’s tournament opener. The national side won that contest comfortably thanks to a team effort which saw the bowlers restrict West Indies to 124 for seven and chase it down with ease with eight wickets and 10 balls spare.

Anam, brought into the attack to deliver her final over, provided the crucial breakthrough with the wicket of wicketkeeper-batter Shemaine Campbelle on the first ball. That lbw put an end to a 63-run partnership between the top scorers of the match Stafanie Taylor, the West Indies skipper, and Campbelle and sparked a middle-order collapse which reduced the opposition from 91 for three to 123 for seven.

She is now looking forward to playing West Indies again and hopes that she will be able to live up to the expectations of her teammates and fans.

“West Indies are a quality international side and playing against them is always challenging. I have always enjoyed the challenge that that opposition brings and I am looking forward to making an impression in the West Indies. This will be the first time our team will play in Antigua and this brings me an opportunity to leave a mark there.

“This tour will play a crucial role in our preparations for three major events – ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers, ICC Women’s World Cup and Commonwealth Games 2020 – in which we have to participate in the next year.

“I have been working on my skills under Arshad Khan and his mentorship has certainly helped me better my skills. It is indeed a great pleasure to have a Test cricketer as a coach. I am really excited to go out there and perform for my team.”

Pakistan squad for the tour:

Javeria Khan (captain, national team), Rameen Shamim (One-Day captain, ‘A’ team), Sidra Nawaz (T20 captain, A team), Aliya Riaz, Aiman Anwar, Anam Amin, Ayesha Naseem, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Iram Javed, Jaweria Rauf, Kainat Imtiaz, Kaynat Hafeez, Maham Tariq, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wk), Nahida Khan, Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Saba Nazir, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, and Syeda Aroob Shah

Matches schedule:

30 June – 1st T20I between national sides and 1st T20 between ‘A’ teams at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium 2 July – 2nd T20I between national sides and 2nd T20 between ‘A’ teams at Coolidge Cricket Ground 4 July – 3rd T20I between national sides and 3rd T20 between ‘A’ teams at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium 7 July – 1st ODI between national sides at Coolidge Cricket Ground 9 July – 2nd ODI between national sides at Coolidge Cricket Ground 10 July – 1st one-day between ‘A’ sides at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium 12 July – 3rd ODI between national sides at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium 13 July – 2nd one-day between ‘A’ sides at Coolidge Cricket Ground 15 July – 4th ODI between national sides at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium 16 July – 3rd one-day between ‘A’ sides at Coolidge Cricket Ground 18 July – 5th ODI between national sides at Coolidge Cricket Ground