The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially unveiled its formidable 15-member squads set to compete in both the highly anticipated Women’s Asia Cup and the prestigious Asian Games. A significant development sees the return of star player Fatima Sana, who will captain both teams. Her leadership marks a notable comeback after her recent absence from the T20I series against Sri Lanka, during which she was participating in The Hundred. This dual captaincy underscores the immense trust and confidence the PCB places in her abilities to lead the national side on these crucial international platforms.
The Women’s Asia Cup squad showcases a blend of experienced players and promising young talent. The roster includes Fatima Sana, Ayesha Zafar, Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Momina Riasat, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sundhu, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani, and Waheeda Akhtar. Pakistan finds itself in Group A of the tournament, alongside arch-rivals India, Thailand, and Hong Kong-China. The competition is slated to take place in Dubai, commencing on August 28 and culminating on September 13. Pakistan’s schedule features key matches against Thailand on September 1, India on September 5, and Hong Kong-China on September 7. The intensity of the tournament will escalate with the semi-finals scheduled for September 10 and 11, leading up to the grand final on September 13.
For the Asian Games, the team composition is largely similar, with some strategic changes to adapt to the format and specific challenges of the multi-sport event. The squad for the Asian Games comprises Fatima Sana, Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Humna Bilal, Momina Riasat, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sundhu, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan, and Umm-e-Hani. The cricket event at the Asian Games will be held in Aichi, Japan, commencing on September 17. Pakistan’s campaign will kick off with a quarter-final clash against Thailand, with the victors progressing to the semi-finals on September 20. The highly anticipated medal matches, determining the bronze and gold medalists, will take place on September 22. Historically, Pakistan women’s cricket has enjoyed significant success at the Asian Games, having secured gold medals in both the 2010 and 2014 editions. However, they finished in fourth place in 2022, a result they will undoubtedly be eager to improve upon in the upcoming games. This year presents a golden opportunity for the team under Fatima Sana’s leadership to reclaim their dominance and add more accolades to their nation’s sporting history.
