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Fatima Sana will once again steer Pakistan at a T20 World Cup, the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed on Saturday while naming a 15-strong squad that will first visit Dublin for a tri-series with Ireland and West Indies before heading to England for the global event.
Continuity sits alongside a few fresh faces. Thirty-four-year-old Iram Javed, short of runs of late, keeps her place. Five players – Eyman Fatima, Natalia Pervaiz, Rameen Shamim, Saira Jabeen and Tasmia Rubab – are in line for World Cup debuts. The selectors have also listed six travelling reserves.
Recent ICC tournaments have been hard work for Pakistan. They left the 2024 T20 World Cup after one win in four, finished bottom in the 2022 edition, and were winless (three no-results) at last year’s ODI World Cup. A convincing 3-0 home victory over Zimbabwe last month, though, offered a measure of optimism and featured Sana’s 15-ball half-century – the quickest in women’s T20Is.
The squad flies out on 27 May. The tri-series, all matches in Dublin, runs from 28 May to 4 June. Pakistan then move to England, opening their World Cup campaign against India in Birmingham on 14 June. Fixtures against 2024 runners-up South Africa, followed by Bangladesh, defending champions Australia and the Netherlands, complete a demanding group stage. Two warm-ups, against Sri Lanka and Scotland, precede the main event.
Pakistan squads
Main group: Fatima Sana (capt), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nashra Sandhu, Natalia Pervaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan.
Travelling reserves: Amber Kainat, Momina Riasat, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Umm-e-Hani.
Key dates
28 May – v Ireland (tri-series, Dublin)
14 Jun – v India (World Cup, Birmingham)
16 Jun – v South Africa (Leeds)
19 Jun – v Bangladesh (Taunton)
22 Jun – v Australia (Derby)
24 Jun – v Netherlands (Cardiff)
There are no grand predictions from the PCB, only a quiet acceptance that results at global events have to improve. Selection chief Saleem Jaffar put it plainly earlier this week: “We have picked the best combination available and expect fight in every game.” The message is simple enough – travel well, compete harder, and let the wins look after themselves.
