Kainat Imtiaz

A classic beyond the borders story was shared by Pakistan woman cricketer Kainat Imtiaz on Monday, who is representing her country in the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup in England.

Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof won the toss and opted to bat first in the rain-affected high-octane Commonwealth Games match group against arch-rivals India on Sunday.

Half-century from Natthakan Chantham helped Thailand win their first-ever victory against Pakistan in a shocker by four wickets in their Asia Cup match at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

India are unbeaten so far in the tournament, having won all their three matches while Pakistan are coming into the contest after a shock defeat against Thailand.

Former first-class cricketer Sabih Azhar has replaced Kabir Khan as Pakistan's women's team coach, just days after the country's Board ruled out removing the incumbent.

Promising 21-year-old leg-spinner has been awarded a central contract by PCB as one of the three first-time women cricketers for the 2022-23 season, which came into effect on Friday.

"We feel the women cricketers needed some sort of encouragement and compensation for their hard work," PCB spokesman Nadeem Sarwar said.

The PCB has added three more spots in the central contracts for women cricketers for the 2021-22 season, while also increasing the monthly retainers across all categories by 10 per cent, the board announced on Monday.

India would expect that opener Shafali Verma comes out of the lean patch she has been enduring for some time and the team extends its domination of Pakistan when the two arch-rivals clash in their women's Asia Cup T20 match on Friday.

Pakistan on Monday named a jumbo 26-member women's cricket squad for their upcoming limited-overs tour of the West Indies, beginning on June 30.

Their confidence on an all-time high after back-to-back wins, India would look to continue their unbeaten streak when they clash against arch-rivals Pakistan in their third game of the ICC Women's World Cup, on Sunday.