Pakistan Women have their sights set on a fresh start after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the 15-member squads for the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 and the women’s cricket event at the 20th Asian Games on Sunday.
Regular captain Fatima Sana returns to lead Pakistan in both tournaments after missing the recent T20I series against Sri Lanka due to her commitments with The Hundred, where she represented Birmingham Phoenix. Her return will be a major boost for a side looking to recover from a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign.
Pakistan managed only one win in five group matches at the global tournament, finishing fifth in Group 1 with two points. They lost their opening three games against India, South Africa and Bangladesh before suffering a heavy 113-run defeat to Australia. They eventually ended their campaign on a positive note by beating the Netherlands by 37 runs.
FATIMA RETURNS AS PAKISTAN LOOK TO REBUILD
The Asia Cup will be played from August 28 to September 13 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with Pakistan drawn in Group A alongside Hong Kong, China, India and Thailand. They will begin against Thailand on September 1 before facing India on September 5 and Hong Kong, China, on September 7.
The squad announcement comes after Pakistan suffered another setback against Sri Lanka, losing the T20I series 2-1. Muneeba Ali led the side in Fatima Sana’s absence due to her commitments with The Hundred.
For the Asian Games, Pakistan are seeded alongside Thailand and will face them in the fourth quarter-final on September 17. Pakistan won gold at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games but finished fourth at the 2022 edition, leaving them eager to return to the podium.
Fatima, 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 feature in both squads.
Najiha Alvi, Waheeda Akhtar and Sadia Iqbal have been selected for the Asia Cup, while Aliya Riaz, Tasmia Rubab and Humna Bilal will join the Asian Games squad.
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, Waheeda Akhtar.
Reserves: Tasmia Rubab, Humna Bilal, Maham Anees, 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, Rameen Shamim
– Ends
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