Karachi, May 24, 2023 – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that Fatima Sana will captain the national team in the upcoming ACC Emerging Women’s T20 Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in Hong Kong next month. The selection committee has finalized a 14-player squad, which includes four promising players who had previously represented Pakistan in the inaugural ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup earlier this year. The tournament, featuring eight teams, will be held from June 12 to June 21.
The squad was carefully chosen based on the players’ performances in the T20 phase of the Pakistan Cup Women’s Cricket Tournament and the emerging camp held in Multan back in March. Fatima Sana, with her extensive experience of 31 One-Day Internationals and 24 T20 Internationals, has been appointed as the captain after showcasing exceptional leadership skills. Under her captaincy, the Strikers secured victories in all three matches during the recent tournament and she also led the Blasters to a successful T20 Championship campaign in Lahore last December.
The selected squad comprises Fatima Sana (captain), Anoosha Nasir, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Gulrukh, Lubna Behram, Najiha Alvi (wicketkeeper), Natalia Parvaiz, Sadaf Shamas, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani, and Yusra Amir. The reserves include Amber Kainat, Dua Majid, Fatima Khan, and Rameen Shamim.
Pakistan has been placed in Group A alongside Hong Kong, India A, and Thailand A. The team will kick off their campaign on June 13 against Thailand A, followed by matches against Hong Kong and India A on June 15 and June 17, respectively. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, which will be held on June 19. The tournament’s final is scheduled for June 21.
Chief selector Saleem Jaffar expressed his congratulations to all the selected players and expressed confidence in their abilities. He acknowledged the tough decision-making process due to the exceptional talent available. Jaffar also encouraged those players who were not selected to remain determined and continue working hard, assuring them that opportunities would arise in upcoming events.
Jaffar highlighted Fatima Sana’s outstanding leadership qualities demonstrated in recent domestic tournaments and expressed his belief in her ability to lead the emerging side effectively.
Fatima Sana, honored to be named captain, expressed her enthusiasm and viewed this opportunity as a means of personal growth. She commended the team’s energy and excitement, emphasizing their collective commitment to making the most of this important tournament. Fatima praised the valuable match practice gained during the Pakistan Cup Women’s Cricket Tournament, where they faced tough opposition, and credited the healthy team discussions that contributed to the players’ individual and collective contributions.
The emerging team will commence their pre-tournament camp at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance on Thursday, continuing until June 8. On June 9, they will depart for Hong Kong in preparation for the tournament.
The player support personnel accompanying the team include Aisha Jalil (manager), Mohsin Kamal (head coach), Muhammad Kamran Hussain (assistant coach), Muhammad Usman Shahid (analyst), and Rabia Siddiq (physiotherapist).
The national women’s selection committee, consisting of Asmavia Iqbal, Marina Iqbal, and Mohtashim Rashid, played a crucial role in finalizing the squad.
The PCB aims to make a strong impact in the ACC Emerging Women’s T20 Asia Cup, showcasing the talent and potential of the emerging women’s cricket team while fostering their development and growth in international cricket.
