LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming ODI bilateral series against Australia and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 in South Africa.

Bismah Maroof will continue to lead the green shirts in both upcoming assignments, while Pakistan’s squad gets strengthened with the return of right-arm pacer Baig, and spinners Sadia Iqbal and Tuba Hassan.

Earlier, the trio of Baig, Tuba and Sadia was ruled out of the recently-held home ODI series against Ireland due to shoulder, hand and index finger injuries, respectively.

Notably, Baig and Sadia are part of both the ODI and T20I squads, while Tuba is only included in the T20 World Cup squad.

Meanwhile, two players – Tuba and Fatima Sana – will make their maiden appearance for Pakistan in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

Pakistan national women’s team’s chief selector Asmavia Iqbal finalised Pakistan’s squads for both assignments after deliberations with interim head coach Saleem Jaffer and captain Bismah.

Speaking on the occasion, Asmavia expressed her hope that the side will continue to perform the way they did in the Women’s Asia Cup 2022 and termed the ODI series against Australia a crucial challenge.

“I wish luck to the players who have been selected for both Australia series and ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. I am hopeful the side will continue to perform in the same manner they have performed recently in the ACC Women’s Asia Cup and Ireland series.

“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.

“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.

“The return of Diana Baig, Sadia Iqbal and Tuba Hassan will give a boost to the side and will strengthen our bowling attack which has the capability to do well. Sidra Nawaz has been added as our second wicket-keeper in the squad to give Muneeba Ali some space to express herself more with the bat, and gives an added option to the captain to utilise the services of a second wicket-keeper on the long tour.”

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

Australia series Itinerary

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

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

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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