Nida Dar has been appointed as the captain of Pakistan for the upcoming women’s T20 Asia Cup in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, scheduled from July 19-28, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board. The board also announced the national squad after a four-day camp, which excludes several players from the recent England tour, including Ayesha Zafar, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Umm-e-Hani, and Waheeda Akhtar.
Instead, the selectors have opted for Iram Javed, Omaima Sohail, Syeda Aroob Shah, and Tasmia Rubab. Tasmia Rubab, a 22-year-old left-arm fast bowler, is the only uncapped player in the squad. She showcased her skills playing for Pakistan A against West Indies A and Thailand in November 2023, and impressed in domestic tournaments as well.
The selected players will undergo training ahead of the tournament starting July 5, before heading to Sri Lanka on July 16. Head coach Muhammad Wasim will oversee the preparations, supported by Abdur Rehman (spin bowling coach), Junaid Khan (assistant coach – bowling), and Hanif Malik (assistant coach – fielding).
Pakistan is placed in Group ‘A’ alongside India, Nepal, and UAE. Their first match is against India on July 19, followed by matches against Nepal and UAE on July 21 and 23 respectively. The tournament format includes semi-finals on July 26, with the top two teams from each group advancing.
Squad: Nida Dar (captain), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali, Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sundhu, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab, and Tuba Hassan.
