After missing out on qualifying for the 2018 Women’s World Twenty20, Subha Srinivasan is determined to help the UAE qualify for the 2022 edition even if it means she has to prolong her playing career into her 40s.
The all-rounder was part of the squad that finished seventh in the Qualifier tournament in Netherlands last week as Ireland and Bangladesh advanced to the showpiece event in the West Indies later this year.
It means the UAE will have to wait another four years if they want to showcase their skills on the world stage when the tournament is held in South Africa in 2018.
Srinivasan will be 42 by that time but instead of calling it quits now aged 38, she is eager to carry on playing and help make UAE history by playing in their first elite global competition.
“Most definitely I want to continue playing for a long time,” she said. “Being in your 30s and playing cricket is difficult but I still feel I have a lot to give and I want to get fitter when bowling and batting. I just want to perform consistently in every game I play.”
She added: “I had a 15-year playing career but executing everything is a very challenging task. Performing consistently is the key to success. I know age is catching up with me but at the same time, I have to stay fresh in my mindset and continue to work. I want to help the UAE reach a world competition and it would be great if I could help them do it before I retire.”
Srinivasan showed why she is a key member by taking seven wickets in five matches in Netherlands in a campaign where they defeated the hosts twice in a week.
They were beaten by Asian T20 champions Bangladesh and Papua New Guinea in the group stage before falling to Thailand in the play-offs. But despite the stern competition and playing on European wickets for the first time, she believes the tournament was great learning experience for her team-mates.
“It was really challenging and we have been exposed to a level where we know we have to work even harder,” she added. “We knew what level of competition it is and it was a reality check to see where UAE cricket stands and what areas we need to work on.”
