Saleem Jaffar, Pakistan’s Women’s team Chief Selector has announced Pakistan’s squad for the limited overs series against South Africa. The two teams will first play 3 T20Is and then the 3 One Dayers, all the matches will be played at the National Bank stadium in Karachi. These ODI matches will be a part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2022/23-2025.
Nida Dar will be captaining the Pakistan side in both formats. The experienced all-rounder took over the duties of captaincy from Bismah Maroof, who stepped down from the role after the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Right-arm fast bowler Diana Baig who had injured her finger in the 3rd ODI against Australia earlier this year returns to the squad as they gear up for their first international game since the T20 World Cup. Diana Baig has been named in both the limited overs squads. Baig did manage to feature in the Fairbreak international taking a total of 4 wickets from 5 innings.
Teenage leggie bowler Syeda Aroob Shah marks her comeback in the squad after 3 years. She made her debut at the age of 16 years. Syeda also featured in the inaugural U19 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, she played a total of 5 matches, scoring 98 runs from 4 innings at an average of 32.66 and a strike rate of 104.25. Syeda managed to pick up just 2 wickets in the whole tournament. Syeda will feature for Pakistan only in the shortest format in the upcoming series.
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🇵🇰's squad for South Africa series announced:
• Uncapped 18-year-old Shawaal Zulfiqar earns T20I call.
• Diana Baig returns after recovering from finger injury
• Syeda Aroob Shah makes a comeback after 3 years in T20I side#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/wmpMA9lBK8— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) August 11, 2023
Another teenage player Shawaal Zulfiqar has been named in the T20I squad. She is yet to play a game for Pakistan’s senior team. Just like Syeda, Shawaal was a part of Pakistan’s team in the U19 World Cup, she scored a total of 76 runs from 5 innings at an average of 19.
27-year-old all-rounder Natalia Pervaiz is set to feature for Pakistan after almost 5 long years. She has not played for Pakistan since the end of the Australia vs Pakistan series in Kuala Lumpur in 2018. Pervaiz has been named in the T20I squad, while also being selected in the reserves for the ODI series. Uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Najiha Alvi has also been named in the T20I squad. Off-spinner Umm-e-Hani who has just played one match for the Pakistan side also has been listed in the 15-member squad for both series.
Compared to the last T20I squad picked by Pakistan, there are many exclusions (forced and unforced) like Aimen Anwar, Ayesha Naseem (retired from international cricket), Sidra Nawaz, Tuba Hassan, and Javeria Khan.
In the ODI squad, Pakistan has replaced Kainat Imtiaz and Ayesha Naseem by selecting Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda Akhtar.
The series will start on 1st September, with the teams taking the field for the 1st T20I. The remaining two matches of the shortest format will be played on 3rd and 5th September. Meanwhile, the first ODI will be played on 8th September, while the remaining two will be held on 11th and 14th September.
Pakistan’s squad for T20Is against South Africa:
Nida Dar (C), Aliya Riaz, Bismah Maroof, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali, Najiha Alvi (WK), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah and Umm-e-Hani
Reserves – Anoosha Nasir, Omaima Sohail, and Waheeda Akhtar
Pakistan’s squad for ODIs against South Africa:
Nida Dar (C), Aliya Riaz, Bismah Maroof, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Ghulam Fatima, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sundhu, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (WK), Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda Akhtar
Reserves – Najiha Alvi, Natalia Parvaiz, and Tuba Hassan
(Quotes sourced from PCB media release)
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