Ayesha Zafar, Pakistan's top-order batter, acknowledged on 27 June that her side had fallen short of the cricket they had envisioned for the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup, but said the tournament had delivered important lessons — particularly around batting — ahead of their final group-stage fixture in Bristol. Pakistan remain winless in the competition and face Netherlands in their last match, with a win the only way to end the campaign on a positive note.

Where Pakistan Fell Short

Reflecting on the team's campaign, Zafar was candid in her assessment. “Definitely not the kind of cricket that we wanted to play and wanted to put up in this World Cup,” she said in a pre-match interaction with broadcasters. She pointed to batting consistency as the primary area of concern, noting how players from rival sides had stepped up and batted through their innings — something Pakistan had struggled to replicate.

“We have definitely learned quite a lot of few things, specifically regarding batting, how we have seen some players from the different teams step up to the occasion and bat throughout. And I think that's what we have been missing,” Zafar said.

Zafar on Her Own Struggles

On a personal level, the top-order batter conceded she had been unable to build consistent innings across the tournament. “I would like to get going in my innings more because honestly, in these few matches, I've not been able to get going other than one or two matches. So I think I'd work more on the development of my innings, how to go about it,” she admitted.

Notably, this is Zafar's first Women's T20 World Cup appearance in eight years, making her return to the global stage a significant personal milestone even amid the team's difficult run.

Bowling Ambitions in T20 Format

Zafar also expressed a desire to contribute more with the ball, underscoring the all-round demands of T20 cricket. “You see in T20 cricket, it's all about how much you can give back to your team. I think if I can bowl a few overs in the match and support my bowling unit as well, then I think that would be good,” she said. Her willingness to add a bowling dimension could give Pakistan's captain additional flexibility in the crunch fixture against Netherlands.

Sana Mir's Role as Mentor

Zafar reserved special praise for former Pakistan captain Sana Mir, crediting her with providing steady guidance throughout the tournament. “I think she's a star mentor for all of us. She's there whenever we need her, and she's in contact with the girls and with the captain. And she's been a help throughout this tournament as well,” Zafar said.

She added that Mir's support had been particularly valuable during low moments: “Whenever you feel you're down, she's there to help you out and get out of the shell or wherever you're stuck. So she's always there, and I believe she always will be there.”

What Pakistan Need Against Netherlands

With no wins from their group-stage matches so far, Pakistan's campaign has been a difficult one. The match against Netherlands offers a chance to salvage some pride and carry forward momentum — and batting lessons — into future assignments. How the side responds under pressure, with nothing but honour to play for, will be a telling indicator of where Pakistan women's cricket stands heading into the next cycle.