Pakistan Cricket Board has announced a 15-member squad for the women’s cricket tournament at the 20th Asian Games, which will take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 17 to 22. Regular captain Fatima Sana returns to lead Pakistan after missing the Sri Lanka T20I series because of her The Hundred commitment. Pakistan are seeded with Thailand and will face them in the fourth quarter-final on September 17. The match will be played at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi.
Pakistan have a record in women’s cricket at the Asian Games, winning gold medals in the 2010 and 2014 editions. However, they finished fourth in the most recent 2022 event. The team will now have another chance to compete for a medal in Japan. If Pakistan beat Thailand in the quarter-final, they will face either Sri Lanka or Malaysia in the semi-final on September 20. The bronze and gold medal matches are scheduled for September 22.
Pakistan Women’s Asian Games Squad
Fatima Sana, Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Humna Bilal, Momina Riasat, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Nashra Sundhu, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani
Reserves: Natalia Parvaiz, Waheeda Akhtar, Sadia Iqbal, Syeda Aroob Shah, Rameen Shamim
Fatima Sana will lead a squad that includes experienced players. Aliya Riaz and Muneeba Ali Siddiqui can provide valuable experience, while players such as Gull Feroza, Saira Jabeen and Nashra Sundhu will also have important roles. Pakistan’s first match against Thailand will be a knockout game, so the team cannot afford a slow start. A win will keep their medal hopes alive.
Pakistan Women’s Asian Games Support Staff
Wahab Riaz, Ayesha Ashar, Abdur Rehman, Umaid Asif, Abdul Majeed, Imran Farhat, Waleed Ahmed, Tehreem Sumbal
The Pakistan team will attend a training camp at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore from August 16 to August 25. The camp will allow the players to train together before the Asia Cup and later the Asian Games campaign. It will also give the squad time to prepare for the pressure of knockout cricket. The team will travel to Japan after its earlier commitments.
Pakistan Women’s Asian Games Schedule and Fixtures
September 17 – Quarter-final 4: Pakistan vs Thailand, Korogi Athletic Park, Aichi
September 20 – Semi-final 1 and Semi-final 2, Korogi Athletic Park, Aichi
September 22 – Bronze medal and Gold medal matches, Korogi Athletic Park, Aichi
Pakistan’s Asian Games campaign will be different from a league tournament because every match after the opening stage can decide their medal hopes. The quarter-final against Thailand will therefore be important. If Pakistan win, they will meet either Sri Lanka or Malaysia in the semi-final. The players will need to stay calm and avoid mistakes.
The Asian Games will give Pakistan another chance to add to their medal record. Their gold-medal wins in 2010 and 2014 remain important achievements, while the fourth-place finish in 2022 will give the team motivation. Fatima Sana will have the responsibility of leading the side through the knockout matches. If Pakistan perform well with the bat, ball and in the field, they can hope to reach the medal matches and challenge for gold again.
Pakistan’s immediate focus will be on preparation and the long tournament schedule ahead. The Lahore camp should help the players train together and settle into their roles before the Asia Cup. After that competition, attention will turn to Japan and the Asian Games knockout matches. A strong team effort and calm cricket under pressure will be important if Pakistan want to return to the podium in Aichi-Nagoya.
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