LAHORE: Right-arm pacer Diana Baig has returned to the national side after missing out home series against Ireland as Pakistan announced ODI and T20 squads for next month’s tour of Australia and the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled in February 2023.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday named 15-member Women’s squads for the upcoming overseas assignment in Australia, where Pakistan will play three ODIs and as many T20Is before heading to South Africa for the megaevent.
“Bismah Maroof will continue to lead the Pakistan Women’s team in both assignments. The squads were finalised after deliberations by Asmavia, interim head coach Saleem Jaffer and captain Bismah,” said PCB in a media release.
Besides Diana, who was rested for the three ODIs and three T20Is against Ireland at home due to shoulder injury, spinners Sadia Iqbal and Tuba Hasan are also included in the squads after being ruled out of the Ireland series due to hand and index finger injuries.
“The ODI series against Australia is very crucial, the expectations are high as we have won five of the six ICC Championship matches and our aim is to qualify directly for the 50-over World Cup,” said Chief selector Asmavia Iqbal.
“We have relied more on the senior players in the formation of the squad for the World Cup and we expect them to use their experience on the field and get positive results for the team,” she added.
The Women’s T20 World Cup will take place from February 10 to February 26 in South Africa while Pakistan’s tour of Australia is set to commence on January 16, 2023.
Pakistan ODI squad for Australia series:
Bismah Maroof (c), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Naseem, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Ghulam Fatima, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nashra Sandhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin and Sidra Nawaz (wk)
Travelling Reserves: Aimen Anwar, Javeria Khan and Tuba Hassan
Pakistan T20I squad for Australia and ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, South Africa:
Bismah Maroof (c), Aimen Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Naseem, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Javeria Khan, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nashra Sandhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wk) and Tuba Hassan
Reserves: Ghulam Fatima, Kainat Imtiaz and Sadaf Shamas
Australia Tour Schedule:
16 January – First ODI at Allan Border Field, Brisbane
18 January – Second ODI at Allan Border Field, Brisbane
21 January – Third ODI at North Sydney Oval No.1, North Sydney
24 January – First T20I at North Sydney Oval No.1, North Sydney
26 January – Second T20I at Blundstone Arena, Hobart
29 January – Third T20I at Manuka Oval, Canberra
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 Pakistan fixtures
12 February v India at Newlands, Cape Town
15 February v Ireland at Newlands, Cape Town
19 February v West Indies at Boland Park, Paarl
21 February v England at Newlands, Cape Town
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