by: Atika Mehboob TN Sport Pakistan:
Pakistan’s Women’s Cricket Team suffered a double blow on the injury front during their first ODI against New Zealand in Queenstown. Captain Nida Dar and all-rounder Diana Baig were both forced out of the field with injuries.
Dar, who is also the team’s leading wicket-taker, was struck in the face by the ball while bowling the seventh over of New Zealand’s innings. She received medical attention on the field before being taken to a local hospital for further examination. As per the PCB, the inclusion of the Pakistan skipper in further matches of the series remains under doubt as of now.
Baig, on the other hand, suffered a fractured finger while fielding earlier in the match. The extent of her injury was initially unclear, but medical reports confirmed a fracture in her index finger, sidelining her for the entire ODI leg of the tour.
The loss of both Dar and Baig is a major setback for Pakistan. Dar’s leadership and experience will be sorely missed, while Baig’s all-round abilities with both bat and ball were crucial to the team’s balance.
With the first ODI already lost by a comfortable margin, the double injury blow adds further pressure on Pakistan as they look to bounce back in the remaining two matches of the series. The team’s management will now need to assess the remaining players and find suitable replacements for the injured duo to strengthen their chances in the upcoming games.
