SA women to tour Pak ahead of T20 World Cup

They will play three T20Is in Multan

LAHORE:

Pakistan and South Africa women's cricket teams will prepare for next month's ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 in the UAE by competing in a three-match series at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

The South Africa team will arrive in Multan on 13 September, with matches scheduled for 16, 18, and 20 September. To ensure all three matches are broadcast live and give exposure to women's cricket, the matches on 16 and 18 September will start at 7pm, while the match on 20 September will begin at 10am.

After the series, South Africa will depart for the UAE on 21 September, while Pakistan will leave on 23 September. Pakistan is in Group A of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024, along with Australia, India, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka, while South Africa is grouped with Bangladesh, England, Scotland and the West Indies.

Following warm-up matches against Scotland and Bangladesh on 28 and 30 September, respectively, Pakistan will face Sri Lanka on 3 October in Sharjah, followed by matches against India on 6 October in Dubai, Australia on 11 October in Dubai and New Zealand on 14 October in Dubai.

Meanwhile, the PCB has confirmed that the squad announced for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 will feature in the three-match series against South Africa.

The squad is: Fatima Sana (captain), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali (wicket-keeper), Nashra Sundhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal (subject to fitness), Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab and Tuba Hassan.

Najiha Alvi (wicket-keeper, traveling reserve), Rameen Shamim and Umm-e-Hani (both non-traveling reserves) will be part of the pre-series training camp and series in Multan. However, only Najiha will travel to the UAE with the squad.

To prepare for the home series and next month's ICC Women's T20 World Cup, the Pakistan women's training camp will commence at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Sunday, 1 September.

The following is the player support personnel for the training camp, series against South Africa and the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024:

Hina Munawar (manager), Muhammad Wasim (head coach), Junaid Khan (assistant coach – bowling), Hanif Malik (assistant coach – fielding), Abdur Rehman (spin bowling coach), Imran Khalil (strength and conditioning coach), Raza Kitchlew (media and digital manager), Rabia Siddiq (physiotherapist) and Waleed Ahmed (analyst).

Schedule of matches:

16 Sep – 1st T20I, Multan Cricket Stadium (7pm start)

18 Sep – 2nd T20I, Multan Cricket Stadium (7pm start)

20 Sep – 3rd T20I, Multan Cricket Stadium (10am start).