The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shown confidence in Nida Dar, retaining her as the captain of the national women’s team for the upcoming Asia Cup. The tournament is scheduled to be held in Dambulla, Sri Lanka from July 19 to 28. This decision comes after Pakistan faced a series of defeats in both ODI and T20 formats during their recent tour of England under Nida’s leadership. Despite the setbacks, the PCB has chosen to stick with her for the regional event, which also includes their arch-rivals, India.
Several players who were part of the 17-member squad that toured England in June have been omitted from the Asia Cup team. Ayesha Zafar, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Umm-e-Hani, and Waheeda Akhtar are not included in the final squad. Instead, the selectors have brought in four new faces: Iram Javed, Omaima Sohail, Syeda Aroob Shah, and Tasmia Rubab. Notably, three of these players have been recalled after a period away from international T20 cricket. Iram Javed last played a T20I in October 2023 against Bangladesh, Omaima Sohail’s last appearance was in December 2023 against New Zealand, and Syeda Aroob Shah’s last T20I was in September 2023 against South Africa. The squad also features Tasmia Rubab, a 22-year-old left-arm fast bowler, who is the only uncapped player in the team.
In addition to the changes in the playing squad, the PCB has also made alterations to the coaching staff. Former Test batsman Muhammad Wasim has been appointed as the new head coach, with Abdul Rehman and Junaid Khan serving as his support staff. The selected players will have an intensive training camp in Karachi starting from July 5, which will continue until their departure for Sri Lanka on July 16. Hina Munawar, Rabia Siddiq, and Waleed Ahmed have been confirmed as the team manager, physiotherapist, and analyst, respectively. This Asia Cup will be a crucial test for Pakistan’s women’s team as they aim to improve their performance and gain confidence ahead of future international tournaments.
