With the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 being hosted in England next year, head coach of the Pakistan women team, Wahab Riaz, has a clear message for his players – forget about the conditions, opponents, and results from the past. Focus on fearless cricket. The former fast bowler of Pakistan has advised the side to have fun in the competition, rely on their ability, and play attacking cricket throughout the tournament despite their poor performance in previous games.
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Wahab has clearly advised his squad to play positive cricket as he said, “It is the dream of every player to play in a World Cup. I have told my players to go out there, enjoy themselves, express themselves and play attacking cricket, no matter what the outcome is.”
Despite arriving at the tournament after tough outings, Pakistan will try to take on better sides and advance to the semis stage of the competition. Pakistan’s first match against India, which will be held in Birmingham on June 14, is expected to become one of the major clashes of the tournament.
The statement made by Wahab comes amid the difficult group of Pakistan, where the team faces opponents like India, defending champion Australia, South Africa, Bangladesh, and the Netherlands. However, the coach claims that in the case of T20 cricket, confidence makes all the difference.
Pakistan Banks on Aggressive Cricket
Pakistan’s journey to the World Cup has certainly had its ups and downs. The team struggled to find their footing during a tri-series in Ireland, where they faced defeats against both Ireland and the West Indies. The challenges didn’t stop there, as they also stumbled in warm-up matches against Sri Lanka and Scotland. However, Wahab sees these hurdles as important learning experiences rather than reasons for alarm. He pointed out that the squad has picked up valuable insights by playing in different weather and pitch conditions ahead of the big tournament. The coach is keeping his spirits high about Pakistan’s chances.
He feels confident that the team boasts a solid blend of seasoned players and fresh talent, as he said, “In T20 cricket, any result is possible. We will go into every group match with the belief that we can win, We have a good combination of experienced players and talented youngsters. To succeed in a World Cup, you just have to keep faith in your ability regardless of the opponent.”
With England’s conditions sometimes favoring slower bowlers, Pakistan is hopeful that their spin attack will make a significant impact during the tournament.
Support for the squad has also come from former Pakistan head coach Mickey Arthur.
During a recent interaction with the players in Derby, Arthur advised them “You have the potential. If you play according to your plans, winning will not be difficult.”
Drawing on Pakistan’s successful ICC Champions Trophy 2017 campaign, he stressed that teamwork, discipline and confidence can help deliver results on the biggest stage. As the World Cup begins, Pakistan’s focus remains clear: play positive cricket and compete with belief in every match.
