Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sacked the head coach of the national women`s team, Muhammad Wasim, after a humiliating exit from the recently concluded ODI Women`s World Cup 2025.
Though the side qualified for the global showpiece tournament in April after topping the qualifiers held in Lahore, they finished their campaign in the last spot of the eight-team event, which was hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
The “Women in Green” played all their ODI Women`s World Cup 2025 matches in Colombo. The team, led by Fatima Sana, lost four matches, while three games were abandoned due to rain.
The PCB said that the head coach`s contract had ended with the World Cup, and the board has decided not to extend it. The board will soon announce the new head coach for the women`s team.
Wasim, a former Test player who has also served as chief selector of the men`s teams, was appointed as the head coach last year.
His tenure saw the Pakistan team lose the Asia Cup semifinals and then get knocked out in the league stages of the T20 World Cup earlier this year.
According to a source, the board is looking to hire a foreign coach, but if a suitable candidate is not found, they may appoint former skipper of the women`s team, Bismah Maroof, as the new head coach.
The source added that the rest of the support staff will also be changed in a few days.
The ODI Women`s World Cup 2025 final concluded in Navi Mumbai`s DY Patil Stadium on November 2, with Team India picking the coveted trophy after defeating South Africa.
The vistors were bowled out for 246 runs in 45.3 overs while attempting to chase the target of 299 runs.
Skipper Laura Wolvaardt departed after scoring 101 runs off 98 deliveries, with the help of 11 boundaries and a maximum.
Deepti Sharma was the most successful bowler for the hosts. Bowling 9.3 overs, she bagged five wickets for 39 runs. Meanwhile, Shafali Verma claimed two wickets by conceding 36 runs in seven overs. Nallapureddy Charani picked up one wicket for 48 runs in nine overs.
Renuka Singh, Kranti Goud, Amanjot Kaur, and Radha Yadav went wicketless in the final of ODI Women`s World Cup 2025.
Earlier, Shafali Verma delivered a strong start to Team India. She played a stunning knock of 87 runs off 78 balls, including seven boundaries and two maximums.
Deepti Sharma then steered India`s innings, scoring 58 runs in the same number of deliveries. Her knock was laced with three boundaries and a maximum.
Richa Ghosh, too, joined the party and smashed three boundaries and two maximums. Ghosh`s knock ended with a score of 34 runs off 24 balls. Riding on their scores, the “Women in Blue” posted a total of 298 runs for the loss of seven wickets.
Ayabonga Khaka emerged as the most successful bowler for South Africa in the final match of ODI Women`s World Cup 2025. She bowled nine overs and claimed three wickets after conceding 58 runs. Nonkululeko Mlaba, Nadine de Klerk, and Chloe Tryon registered one wicket each.
(With PTI Inputs)