With the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifiers just around the corner, Pakistan has announced its 15-member squad for the crucial event. The tournament, which runs from April 9 to 19, will be hosted in Lahore, where Pakistan will battle alongside five other teams—West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland, and Thailand—for a spot in the prestigious 50-over World Cup in India later this year.
Pace-bowling all-rounder Fatima Sana has been entrusted with the captaincy once again, having previously led Pakistan in six T20Is and two ODIs. Notably, former captain Nida Dar has been omitted from the squad, despite being part of the 19-player training camp before the final selection. The 38-year-old last featured in an ODI on May 29, 2024, against England and was recently left out of PCB’s central contracts, marking a significant shift in Pakistan’s team dynamics.
Aliya Riaz, who also missed out on a central contract, retains her place in the squad, while Shawaal Zulfiqar makes a comeback after recovering from a shoulder injury sustained during the New Zealand tour in December 2023. The selection committee finalized the squad after closely evaluating players’ fitness and performances in the preparation camp, which included warm-up matches and intensive training sessions.
Pakistan last played an ODI series against England in May 2024, and their squad for the upcoming Qualifiers has undergone notable changes. Omaima Sohail, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Syeda Aroob Shah, and Sidra Nawaz have been added to the Qualifiers squad after missing out on the England tour. Meanwhile, Nida Dar, Ayesha Zafar, Sadaf Shamas, and Tuba Hassan, who were part of the England series, have not been included for the upcoming event.
Pakistan’s Squad for 2025 Women’s World Cup Qualifier:
Fatima Sana (C), Muneeba Ali (WK), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza, Najiha Alvi (WK), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Sadia Iqbal, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (WK), Syeda Aroob Shah
Reserves: Ghulam Fatima, Waheeda Akhtar, Umm-e-Hani
These modifications indicate a strategic shift, with the selectors opting for a balance between experienced players and fresh faces as Pakistan aims to secure a spot in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.
The six-team ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers will be played in a round-robin format, where each team will face the others once. The top two teams at the end of the group stage will qualify for the ODI World Cup in India.
The matches will be hosted at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium and the LCCA Ground, with a total of 15 matches scheduled across both venues. Pakistan will open their campaign against Ireland on April 9 at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Pakistan’s Fixtures in the 2025 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers:
April 9 – vs Ireland, Gaddafi Stadium (Day Match)
April 11 – vs Scotland, LCCA Ground (Day Match)
April 14 – vs West Indies, Gaddafi Stadium (Day-Night Match)
April 17 – vs Thailand, Gaddafi Stadium (Day-Night Match)
April 19 – vs Bangladesh, LCCA Ground (Day Match)
Pakistan is set to leverage home advantage as they host the high-stakes tournament. With Fatima Sana leading the charge, the team will be aiming for a strong performance to secure one of the two remaining spots in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025. The tournament promises to be a thrilling battle, and Pakistan will need to bring their A-game to outshine their competitors and book their ticket to the main event.
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