Nida Dar to lead Pakistan in ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup

PCB announces 17-member squad for the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup in Sri Lanka

ISLAMABAD:

Nida Dar will lead the Pakistan team as captain for the upcoming ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup, set to take place in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, from July 19 to 28.

The final squad was announced following a four-day camp that concluded in Karachi on Saturday, according to a press release. The confirmed squad includes Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali, Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab, and Tuba Hassan.

Several players from the 17-member squad that toured England last month, including Ayesha Zafar, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Umm-e-Hani, and Waheeda Akhtar, have been left out. Replacing them are Iram Javed, Omaima Sohail, Syeda Aroob Shah, and Tasmia Rubab.

Iram Javed last appeared in a T20I against Bangladesh in Chattogram in October 2023. Omaima Sohail played her last T20I against New Zealand in Queenstown in December 2023, and Syeda Aroob Shah’s most recent T20I was against South Africa in Karachi in September 2023.

Tasmia Rubab, a 22-year-old left-arm fast bowler, is the only uncapped player in the squad. She previously played for Pakistan A against West Indies A and Thailand in November 2023. In the recent National Women’s One-Day Tournament 2023-24, Tasmia scored 86 runs and took 12 wickets. She also claimed four wickets with an economy rate of 6.36 in the National Women T20 Tournament 2023-24.

The Pakistan women’s national cricket team will commence a training camp in Karachi on July 5, continuing until their departure on July 16. Head coach Muhammad Wasim will lead the camp, supported by spin bowling coach Abdur Rehman, assistant coach (bowling) Junaid Khan, and assistant coach (fielding) Hanif Malik.

The team’s management includes Hina Munawar (manager), Rabia Siddiq (physiotherapist), and Waleed Ahmed (analyst).

Pakistan is placed in Group ‘A’ alongside India, Nepal, and UAE, while Group ‘B’ comprises Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Malaysia. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals on July 26.

Pakistan will face India on the tournament’s opening day, July 19, followed by matches against Nepal and UAE on July 21 and 23, respectively.