Bismah Maroof says Pakistan women will use the tri-series to prepare for the Commonwealth Games

Pakistan women's cricket team will be looking forward to using the upcoming tri-series against Australia and Ireland as the ideal launch pad to prepare for the Commonwealth Games that will be held in Birmingham, England. 

The side, led by all-rounder Bismah Maroof will be flying to Europe this week ahead of the tri-series. The series consists of four T20I matches in Belfast.

The series will be crucial for the Pakistan women in terms of their preparation in the lead-up to the Eight-team Commonwealth Games tournament commencing at the end of this month.  

The Pakistan women's side have had multiple practice sessions interrupted due to poor weather conditions in Rawalpindi and Islamabad recently. The sessions had to be moved indoors because of incessant rains. 

However, skipper Bismah seemed pretty confident, and she said that the preparations for the upcoming busy cricketing schedule were good. 

She said, "Our preparations have suffered a bit due to the persistent rains as we could not play practice matches. We had to hence shift our focus to fitness more.

"We tried to make most of the indoor facility we were provided, and that did come as a good help to the side amid the weather challenges. 

"We have a good team combination with youngsters like Tuba Hassan, Ayesha Naseem and Fatima Sana providing real energy, skill and talent, they are the ones for the future, and this tour is a real opportunity for them to make a big impression."

Pakistan will be playing the first tri-series match against a strong Australian side in Belfast on July 16. The other three games will be played at the same venue over a five-day period. 

The 30-year-old skipper said she hopes to get accustomed to the European conditions during the tri-series and will look forward to securing at least one victory in the Commonwealth Games. 

Pakistan will play Barbados in their Commonwealth Games opener at Edgbaston on July 29, before clashes against India (July 31) and Australia (August 3) later in the tournament. 

"The tri-series in Ireland provides us a good opportunity of acclimatising to the conditions ahead of the Commonwealth Games," Bismah noted. 

"At the Commonwealth Games, we would take on the challenge of playing formidable opponents as to succeed there. We need to beat the big teams. Our aim would be to target a victory."

Pakistan Squad: Bismah Maroof (c), Aimen Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Naseem, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gul Feroza, Iram Javed, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Tuba Hassan.