Pakistan Women will look to make a fresh start after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced 15-member squads for the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 and the women’s cricket competition at the 20th Asian Games on Sunday.
Regular captain Fatima Sana has returned to lead Pakistan in both tournaments after missing the recent T20I series against Sri Lanka because of her commitments with The Hundred, where she played for Birmingham Phoenix. Her comeback is expected to strengthen a team looking to bounce back from a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign.
Pakistan managed only one victory from five group matches at the global tournament and finished fifth in Group 1 with two points. They began with defeats against India, South Africa and Bangladesh before suffering a heavy 113-run loss to Australia. They ended their campaign with a 37-run win over the Netherlands.
FATIMA RETURNS AS PAKISTAN LOOK TO REBUILD
The Women’s Asia Cup will take place from August 28 to September 13 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Pakistan have been placed in Group A alongside Hong Kong, China, India and Thailand.
They will open their campaign against Thailand on September 1, followed by matches against India on September 5 and Hong Kong, China, on September 7.
The squad announcement came shortly after Pakistan lost their T20I series against Sri Lanka 2-1. Muneeba Ali had captained the team during Fatima Sana’s absence while the regular skipper was playing in The Hundred.
At the Asian Games, Pakistan have been seeded alongside Thailand and will meet them in the fourth quarter-final on September 17. Pakistan won gold medals at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games but finished fourth in the 2022 edition, and will be aiming to return to the podium.
Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Ayesha Zafar, Gull Feroza, Saira Jabeen, Eyman Fatima, Eman Naseer, Umm-e-Hani, Tuba Hassan, Nashra Sundhu and Momina Riasat have been included in both squads.
Najiha Alvi, Waheeda Akhtar and Sadia Iqbal have been selected for the Asia Cup squad, while Aliya Riaz, Tasmia Rubab and Humna Bilal will be part of the Asian Games team.
PAKISTAN WOMEN’S SQUAD FOR WOMEN’S ASIA CUP
Fatima Sana (captain), Ayesha Zafar, Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Momina Riasat, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wk), Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sundhu, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda Akhtar.
Reserves: Tasmia Rubab, Humna Bilal, Maham Anees and Sadaf Shamas.
PAKISTAN WOMEN’S SQUAD FOR ASIAN GAMES
Fatima Sana (captain), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Humna Bilal, Momina Riasat, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan and Umm-e-Hani.
Reserves: Natalia Parvaiz, Waheeda Akhtar, Sadia Iqbal, Syeda Aroob Shah and Rameen Shamim.
