Lahore (GNP): The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced 15-member squads for the DP World Women’s Asia Cup 2026 and the 20th Asian Games women’s cricket event, with regular captain Fatima Sana returning to lead the side in both tournaments after sitting out the recent Sri Lanka T20I series due to commitments with The Hundred.
The eight-team DP World Women’s Asia Cup will run from August 28 to September 13 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with all matches starting at 7:30pm PKT. Pakistan has been placed in Group A alongside Hong Kong-China, India, and Thailand, while Group B comprises Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the UAE.
Pakistan will play Thailand on September 1, India on September 5, and Hong Kong-China on September 7, with semifinals scheduled for September 10 and 11, followed by the final on September 13.
In the Asian Games women’s cricket event, Pakistan is seeded alongside Thailand and will face them in the quarterfinal on September 17. Other quarterfinal matchups include India vs. Japan, Bangladesh vs. China, and Sri Lanka vs. Malaysia. All matches will be played at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi, Japan.
If Pakistan advances, they would face either Sri Lanka or Malaysia in the semifinal on September 20, with the bronze and gold medal matches set for September 22. Pakistan previously won gold in the 2010 and 2014 editions of the event, finishing fourth in 2022.
Alongside captain Fatima Sana, players including Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Ayesha Zafar, Gull Feroza, Saira Jabeen, Eyman Fatima, Eman Naseer, Umm-e-Hani, Tuba Hassan, Nashra Sundhu, and Momina Riasat feature in both squads. Najiha Alvi, Waheeda Akhtar, and Sadia Iqbal have been named specifically for the Asia Cup squad, while Aliya Riaz, Tasmia Rubab, and Humna Bilal will join the team for the Asian Games leg after the squad travels from the UAE to Japan. The Asian Games squad was originally submitted back in June.
The team will undergo a pre-tournament training camp at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore from August 16 to 25.
Full Squad: Fatima Sana (captain), Ayesha Zafar, Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Momina Riasat, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wk), Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sundhu, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani, Waheeda Akhtar.\
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Reserves: Tasmia Rubab, Humna Bilal, Maham Anees, Sadaf Shamas.
Team Management: Wahab Riaz (coach/mentor), Ayesha Ashar (team manager), Abdur Rehman (spin bowling coach), Umaid Asif (fast bowling coach), Abdul Majeed (fielding coach), Imran Farhat (batting coach), Waleed Ahmed (performance analyst), Moeen (strength & conditioning coach), Dur Samand (physiotherapist), and Raza Rashid Kitchlew (media manager).
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
