On Friday, 18 July, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveiled a busy women’s cricket schedule for the 2025–26 season, with the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 standing out as key highlights.
However, former captain Sana Mir expressed concerns about the scheduling of Pakistan’s domestic 50-over tournament, questioning its effectiveness given that it is set to take place after the World Cup. She pointed out that the national team would have just three ODIs in preparation, raising doubts about how much the tournament would contribute to the team’s readiness.
In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Sana Mir criticised the scheduling and called for “constructive criticism” instead of applauding what she described as inefficiency.
PCB Issues Clarification on Schedule
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) strongly dismissed the recent comments made by former women’s team captain Sana Mir, calling them “misleading” and “not aligned with the facts.” In response to her public criticism about a potential scheduling conflict between the National Women’s One-Day Tournament and the ICC Women’s One-Day World Cup, the PCB released a detailed statement clarifying its position.
PCB stated, “The National Women’s One-Day Tournament is scheduled to begin on November 10 in Karachi, while the ICC Women’s One-Day World Cup concludes on November 2.”
The statement further read, “Sana Mir’s claims are factually incorrect, and such comments should be avoided without verification, especially when they concern national cricket.”
The board also outlined the women’s team’s comprehensive schedule in the lead-up to the World Cup, detailing a calendar from July to November. Preparations include two high-performance training camps, a home series, and an away series—all aimed at equipping the squad for the global event. A 25-day intensive training camp, including practice matches, is also planned in Karachi.
Emphasising its support for women’s cricket, the PCB noted that the national team will host South Africa in a home series following their return from Ireland.
Sana Mir Acknowledges Misinterpretation
Following the PCB’s clarification, Sana Mir acknowledged the scheduling misinterpretation in a follow-up post on X.
The 2025 ICC Hall of Fame inductee tweeted,
“With due respect, the women’s cricket calendar presented on the PCB’s official social media handle appeared to show an overlap, which in reality is not the case, hence causing the confusion. Moving on, I’ll definitely verify my facts from reliable sources and publications.”
This exchange between a legendary former captain and the country’s cricketing authority highlights the growing scrutiny and dialogue surrounding women’s cricket in Pakistan—a sign of its evolving stature and relevance in the broader sporting ecosystem.
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