Pakistan U19 women’s tournament to begin in Karachi

Pakistan’s National Women’s U19 Tournament will begin Thursday, with 75 players from 24 cities competing in a five-team event aimed at developing the country’s next generation of women cricketers.

The tournament, organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board, will be played at the NBP Sports Complex and HPC Oval Ground in Karachi from August 20 to September 4.

The opening 10 matches will be played in a 30-over format, while the remaining 10 league matches and the September 4 final will be played as Twenty20s.

The five teams — Conquerors, Challengers, Strikers, Stars and Invincibles — will play a double round-robin league, with each side featuring in eight matches. The top two teams will meet in the final, with the venue yet to be announced.

Pakistan women’s U19 captain Fizza Fiaz will lead Challengers, while Samiya Afsar, Ravail Farhan, Komal Khan and Zoofishan Ayyaz will captain Conquerors, Strikers, Stars and Invincibles respectively.

The squads assembled in Karachi on August 16 and trained for three days before the tournament.

Several players were selected through trials conducted by the women’s national selection committee across Pakistan, while members of the Pakistan women’s U19 squad that recently played a five-match T20 series against South Africa will also feature.

The tournament is expected to help the PCB identify and develop players for upcoming international assignments, including the ACC Women’s U19 Asia Cup and ICC Women’s U19 World Cup.

The winners will receive Rs1 million, while the runners-up will be awarded Rs750,000.

All league matches will start at 9:30am Pakistan time.

National Women’s U19 Tournament schedule

August 20: Invincibles v Stars, NBP Sports Complex; Challengers v Conquerors, HPC Oval Ground

August 21: Strikers v Conquerors, NBP Sports Complex; Challengers v Stars, HPC Oval Ground

August 23: Invincibles v Strikers, NBP Sports Complex; Conquerors v Stars, HPC Oval Ground

August 24: Challengers v Strikers, NBP Sports Complex; Invincibles v Conquerors, HPC Oval Ground

August 26: Stars v Strikers, NBP Sports Complex; Invincibles v Challengers, HPC Oval Ground

August 27: Invincibles v Stars, HPC Oval Ground; Challengers v Conquerors, NBP Sports Complex

August 29: Strikers v Conquerors, HPC Oval Ground; Challengers v Stars, NBP Sports Complex

August 30: Invincibles v Strikers, HPC Oval Ground; Conquerors v Stars, NBP Sports Complex

September 1: Challengers v Strikers, HPC Oval Ground; Invincibles v Conquerors, NBP Sports Complex

September 2: Stars v Strikers, HPC Oval Ground; Invincibles v Challengers, NBP Sports Complex

September 4: Final — top two teams, venue to be confirmed.