NEWS
Follow UsDefeat against Australia Women in Sharjah on October 13 (Sunday) has taken India’s fate out of their own hands, and they will now have to rely on their neighbours Pakistan to do them a favour in order to make it through to the semi-finals of the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup.
India are still alive, but they can only progress if Pakistan beat New Zealand in Dubai on October 14 (Monday). And India will want Pakistan to win by less than 50 runs or 11 overs (approximately) as otherwise, Fatima Sana’s side will pip India to the semis.
READ: How can India women still qualify for the T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final?
Team India head coach Amol Muzumdar admitted that he’ll be watching Monday’s clash closely and wished the Pakistan side the best of luck to triumph over the White Ferns.
“Well, I just want to wish Pakistan all the best. That's all I can say. But we will be watching the game very closely, that's for sure,” Muzumdar said after the Australia loss.
As far as the Australia clash is concerned, India, not for the first time, ran the world champions really close. But as has been the case far too often, the Women in Blue faltered in the final hurdle after coming so close. On Sunday, India Women suffered a narrow nine-run defeat.
Muzumdar said that fine margins ended up deciding the clash, and pointed at India’s fielding as a possible reason for the team’s failure to score the ‘W’.
“Look, I mean, I think we were right in the game, right till the last over. Just that experience of Australia, saw them through. Just a little disappointing with the loss,” Muzumdar said.
“And I feel we've fielded pretty well. But yeah, a couple of chances could have been, we could have taken those chances and then the things could have been different. Maybe 10 -15 runs less, even the last over.
“But at the same time, I would like to say that we put in our best effort forward in this game.”
The team India head coach also gave his say on the controversial non-LBW of Phoebe Litchfield.
“Well, I don't know whether I'm qualified to answer about the umpires, but at the same time what I gathered from that non-dismissal is that she didn't move before the ball was released. So, the leg mark, what was there, it stood as it is.
“That was my only understanding about it. Whether it was out or not, it was up to the umpires to decide on the third umpire. So yeah, it was a crucial one.”
READ: Explained: Why was Phoebe Litchfield's LBW call suspiciously overturned?
India entered this T20WC with a lot of optimism, but they are now staring at the prospect of not even making it to the semi-finals. Muzumdar insisted that the side’s preparation was top notch, but admitted that the results in the group stages have proven to be a disappointment.
“In terms of preparation I think we were, we had everything going in that camp in Bangalore and we had two camps one was dedicated towards fitness and fielding and the other one was just the skill camp because we did have about eight weeks to prepare,” Muzumdar said.
“So I couldn't have asked for more from my support staff and I couldn't have asked for more from the players they gave the best in those camps, and preparation for this World Cup was thorough. We came into this World Cup really upbeat.
“Yeah it is a little disappointing to lose the two games in the league stages.”
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