Ireland Women and Pakistan Women are set to face off in a three-match T20 International (T20I) series, at the Clontarf Cricket Club Stadium, Dublin, starting August 6, 2025. Ireland, led by captain Gaby Lewis, recently had a strong run winning a series against Zimbabwe and aims to continue their momentum. Pakistan, led by Fatima Sana, is returning to T20Is after the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup and looks to prepare for upcoming global events with this series.
Both teams are ranked closely in ICC Women’s T20 rankings with Pakistan at 8th and Ireland at 10th. This series serves as a crucial preparatory event for next year’s T20 World Cup qualification cycle. The squads include a mix of experienced players and emerging talents from both sides.
Fantasy Playing XI: Ireland v Pakistan, 1st Women’s T20I
Wicketkeeper –
Amy Hunter
Amy Hunter has played 46 T20I, scoring a total of 1064 runs, including the highest score of 101* and has scored 4 half-centuries in the format. Her batting average in T20Is is 28.00, with a strike rate of 111.18. Notably, she scored her maiden T20I century (101* off 66 balls) against Zimbabwe in January 2024, becoming the first Irish woman to score a century in both T20I and ODI formats. She is a vital player for the Ireland side.
Batters –
Gaby Lewis
Gaby Lewis is a prominent Irish cricketer, born in Dublin. She is a right-handed batter and part-time leg-break bowler, widely regarded as one of Ireland’s leading cricket talents. Making her international debut at just 13 years old, Lewis quickly became known for her aggressive and versatile batting, and she has since played key roles both as a player and a leader. She has scored 2472 runs in T20Is with the bat including two centuries and fifteen half-centuries. She is a vital cog for the Irish team going ahead.
Aliya Riaz
Aliya Riaz, born on September 24, 1992, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, is a prominent Pakistani women’s cricket all-rounder known for her right-handed batting and right-arm medium pace bowling. Riaz has played 99 T20Is and in 84 innings she has scored 1142 runs. Her batting average is 20.39 with a highest score of 57, striking at 96.69 including 2 half-centuries. She has also bowled in T20Is, taking 20 wickets with a bowling average of 31.50. She is a key batter for Pakistan going ahead in the series.
Gull Feroza
Gull Feroza is a Pakistani cricketer who plays as a right-handed batter and wicketkeeper. In T20 Internationals, she has played 18 matches, batted in 18 innings with 2 not outs, scoring a total of 284 runs at an average of 17.75 and a strike rate of around 97.59. Her highest score in T20Is is an unbeaten 62, and she has made 2 half-centuries. As a wicketkeeper, she has taken 6 catches in the format.
All-Rounders –
Orla Prendergast
Orla Prendergast is an Irish all-rounder cricketer, playing as a right-handed batter and right-arm medium bowler. In 63 WT20Is so far, she has scored 1302 runs with a batting average of 26.57. Her highest T20I score is an unbeaten 80, and she has seven half-centuries. With the ball in T20Is, she has taken 46 wickets at an average of 18.89, showcasing her abilities as a contributor with both bat and ball. She is a match winner and a perfect all-rounder for her side going into the series.
Laura Delany
Laura Delany is a highly experienced Irish all-rounder born on December 23, 1992, in Dublin, she bats right-handed and bowls right-arm medium pace. In her international career, she has been phenomenal in both the departments of the game, scoring 1416 runs in 95 innings with the bat including 3 half-centuries and the highest score of unbeaten 70. She has not only contributed with the bat but with the ball as well, picking up 87 wickets with best bowling figures of 4 for 12 and an economy rate of 6.24. She will be a key prospect for her side going ahead in the series.
Fatima Sana
Fatima Sana, born on November 8, 2001, in Karachi, is a Pakistani cricketer who primarily plays as a right-arm medium-fast bowler. She is known for her ability to swing the ball and deliver consistent, accurate bowling, making her a key all-round player for Pakistan’s women’s cricket team. Fatima Sana has played 46 T20Is, and batted in 29 innings, scoring 380 runs at an average of 25.33 with a strike rate of 115.50. As a bowler, she has taken 35 wickets at an average of 29.48 with an economy rate of 7.29 and a strike rate of 24.25.
Bowlers –
Arlene Kelly
Arlene Kelly is an Irish cricketer born on January 8, 1994, in Auckland, New Zealand. She is a right-handed batter and right-arm medium pace bowler, playing as an all-rounder for Ireland Women and the Dragons team in domestic Irish cricket. Kelly made her international debut for Ireland in June 2022 and quickly became a key player, known for her knack for taking important wickets and contributing valuable lower order runs. She has picked up 63 wickets with the ball in 47 T20Is with a four-wicket haul and a fifer and has also scored 129 runs in 20 innings with the highest score of 35.
Cara Murray
In WT20Is, Cara Murray has played 51 matches, taking 40 wickets with an average of 23.27 and an economy rate of 6.77. Her best bowling figures are 3/9. Recently, in the encounter against Zimbabwe, Murray returned figures of 3 for 19 for the Irish side. Murray is primarily valued for her leg-spin bowling, which provides tactical variety and control in the middle overs for Ireland’s women’s team.
Diana Baig
Diana Baig, born on October 15, 1995, in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, is a talented right-arm medium-fast bowler and former footballer who represents Pakistan in international cricket. She is known for her accuracy, ability to swing and seam the ball, and exceptional fielding skills. Diana Baig has played 54 T20 International matches, taking 38 wickets with an economy rate of 6.05 and a bowling average of 26.65. Her bowling strike rate is around 26.39, reflecting her role as a consistent medium-fast bowler.
Nashra Sandhu
Nashra Sandhu, born on November 19, 1997, in Lahore, Pakistan, is a slow left-arm orthodox bowler for the Pakistan women’s cricket team. She made her international debut in 2017 and quickly rose to prominence by becoming the top wicket-taker in the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup with 17 wickets. Known for her economical and consistent bowling, Nashra has been a key player in both ODIs and T20Is for Pakistan. She has picked up 65 wickets in 66 innings with the ball with best bowling figures of 4 for 18 with an economy rate of 5.43.
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