ICC features Pakistan’s Sidra Amin in ‘batters tipped to shine’ in World Cup

Pakistan's Sidra Amin plays a shot off the bowling of England's Lauren Bell Cricket during the third ODI between England v Pakistan at County Cricket Ground in Chelmsford, Britain, on May 29, 2024. (REUTERS/File)
Pakistan's Sidra Amin plays a shot off the bowling of England's Lauren Bell Cricket during the third ODI between England v Pakistan at County Cricket Ground in Chelmsford, Britain, on May 29, 2024. (REUTERS/File)
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Updated 30 September 2025
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ICC features Pakistan’s Sidra Amin in ‘batters tipped to shine’ in World Cup

ICC features Pakistan’s Sidra Amin in ‘batters tipped to shine’ in World Cup
  • ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup gets underway from today with India-Sri Lanka clash, will conclude on Nov. 2
  • Amin, 33, has 2,271 runs from 77 ODIs and has scored back-to-back centuries against South Africa this month

ISLAMABAD: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has included Pakistani cricketer Sidra Amin in its list of “batters tipped to shine” at the Women’s World Cup 2025, which is set to kick off from today, Tuesday, with the first contest scheduled between India and Sri Lanka. 

The 13th edition of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup will take place from Sept. 30 to Nov. 2 in India and Sri Lanka. There are no groups at the Women’s World Cup, with all eight teams set to play seven matches during the group stage and the top four sides on the standings then progress to the knockout semifinal stage. 

Amin, 33, is a veteran Pakistani woman cricketer who has played 77 ODIs and 66 T20Is for her country. She has scored 2,271 runs in ODIs and 1,044 runs in the shortest format of the game and is considered one of the key players for Pakistan. The Pakistani woman cricketer scored back-to-back centuries against South Africa this year, cementing her status as one of the finest women batters in modern-day cricket. 

“In seven ODIs this year, she has crossed fifty more often than not and has been her country’s leading run-getter,” the ICC said in its latest report. “At 33, Sidra is finally combining experience with productivity and her calm approach at the top of the order will be beneficial for Pakistan.”

The cricket governing body said it would be fascinating to see how Amin takes on the best pacers during the world cup tournament. 

The article also features seven other batters, including Australia’s Beth Mooney, Bangladesh’s Sharmin Akhter Supta, England’s Natalie Sciver-Brunt, India’s Smriti Mandhana, New Zealand’s Georgia Plimmer, South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp and Sri Lanka’s Harshitha Samarawickrama as players to watch out for during the tournament. 

Mandhana reclaimed the top spot in the ICC ODI Batter Rankings earlier this year, scoring more than 800 runs in 2025 alone at an average above 60. 

“Mandhana already has over 4,800 ODI runs in her career and has become the most reliable opener India have produced since Mithali Raj,” the report said. “What makes her so important is not just the volume of runs but the timing of them.”

Pakistan begin their campaign for the world title against Bangladesh on Oct. 2. 


Two assailants killed as Pakistani forces repulse attack on cadet college in northwest — military

Two assailants killed as Pakistani forces repulse attack on cadet college in northwest — military
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Two assailants killed as Pakistani forces repulse attack on cadet college in northwest — military

Two assailants killed as Pakistani forces repulse attack on cadet college in northwest — military
  • The attackers attempted to breach the security perimeter and rammed an explosive laden vehicle into the college’s gate
  • Three attackers, who managed to enter the college premises, have been ‘cornered in the college’s administrative block’

ISLAMABAD: Two assailants were killed as Pakistani security forces repulsed an attack on Wana Cadet College in the country’s northwest, the Pakistani military said on Monday, adding three other attackers had been “cornered.”

The assailants attempted to breach the security perimeter and rammed an explosive laden vehicle into the main gate of the facility in South Waziristan district that borders Afghanistan, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.

Pakistani soldiers engaged the attackers and killed two of them, while three others managed to enter the college premises, who have been “cornered in the college’s administrative block.”

The military said the attackers were members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), who it says are sheltered by the Afghan Taliban and backed by India. Kabul and New Delhi deny the allegation.

“Khwarij (TTP militants) hiding inside college premises are in contact with their masters and handlers in Afghanistan and are getting instructions,” the ISPR said in a statement.

“This blatant act of barbarism orchestrated by Khwarij from Afghanistan is in contrast to assertions made by Afghan Taliban Regime claiming non-presence of these terrorist groups on their soil. Pakistan reserves the right to respond against terrorists and their leadership present in Afghanistan.”

The TTP distanced itself from the attack, while there was no immediate response from Kabul or New Delhi to the Pakistani military’s statement.

“Clearance operations are being conducted to eliminate leftover Indian-sponsored kharjis (militants),” the ISPR added.

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have surged in recent years following an uptick in militant attacks, mainly by the TTP, in Pakistan’s western regions that border Afghanistan. The group is separate from but is viewed by Pakistani officials as an ally of the Afghan Taliban.

Clashes erupted between the neighbors on Oct. 11 after Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan against what it said were TTP-linked targets. The sides reached a ceasefire in Doha on Oct. 19.

Two subsequent rounds of talks between the neighbors have failed to yield results, with Pakistan seeking “verifiable” action against militant groups operating on Afghan soil.

Earlier on Monday, the ISPR said Pakistani security forces had killed 20 TTP militants in separate engagements in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, where Wana Cadet College is located.