Urooj Mumtaz reflects on Pakistan's ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2020 campaign.

KARACHI -- The Pakistan Cricket Board today advised its national women's team not to lose heart after their failure to qualify for their maiden semi-final in an ICC Women's T20 World Cup. S e v e n t h - r a n k e d Pakistan clinically defeated 2016 champions and fifth-ranked West Indies in their opener, but then lost back-to-back matches against number-two ranked 2007 champions England and sixth-ranked South Africa. Pakistan's final league match in Group-B against Thailand was washed out after the 11th ranked had set the green shirts a 151- run target. Urooj Mumtaz, Chair of the women's selection committee said, 'The impressive eight-wicket victory against the West Indies, had given all of us the hope that the Pakistan national women's team will qualify for the semifinals. So, from that perspective, it was disappointing to see the girls finish with three points. 'The absence of the captain, Bismah Maroof, for the South Africa fixture due to a communitive fracture in her right thumb affected the team's combination and moral. Bismah brings vast experience and stability in the batting line along with impressive qualities as a leader, both of which were severely missed in the remaining games.

'Nevertheless, we are satisfied to see that the girls are continuing to progress by making strides in the upward direction. The experience...