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DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has named Fatima Sana as the captain of the Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2025 Team of the Tournament, featuring four players from Pakistan.
The team selected by a panel of event commentators, including Andrew Leonard, Marina Iqbal, Kainat Imtiaz, and Joel Manning, also features players from Bangladesh, the West Indies, and Scotland.
“Fatima was Pakistan’s talisman during the tournament, chipping in with crucial late-order runs, and bringing crucial breakthroughs with her fast bowling,” the ICC said in a statement.
The team also features Pakistan’s southpaw opener Muneeba Ali and the left-arm spin duo of Nashra Sandhu and Sadia Iqbal.
Muneeba, who scored 223 runs including half-centuries against Scotland and Bangladesh, is picked as one of the openers alongside Hayley Matthews, who enjoyed a strong tournament with bat and ball.
Matthews made an unbeaten century in a losing cause in the West Indies’ opening match against Scotland and finished by scoring the second-fastest half-century in women’s ODI history against Thailand, reaching the landmark in 21 deliveries on her way to a 29-ball 70.
The 27-year-old also topped the wicket-taking charts with 13 scalps, including four-wicket hauls against Scotland and Ireland.
Bangladesh’s Sharmin Akhter is picked at three after a consistent tournament which saw her score half-centuries against Thailand (94 not out), Scotland (57) and the West Indies (67), finishing with 266 runs at 66.50.
She is followed by the competition’s leading run-scorer and Player of the Tournament, Kathryn Bryce, who backed up scores of 91 against Pakistan and 60 against Thailand with a majestic 131 not out against Ireland, her first ODI century. She also took six wickets across the Qualifier.
Nigar Sultana takes the gloves after playing an integral role in the three victories which ultimately secured Bangladesh’s progress to the Women’s Cricket World Cup, notching consecutive scores of 101, 51 and 83 not out.
She is followed by the skipper, Fatima, who shone with bat and ball as Pakistan won all five of their matches to top the table and secure their own place at the main event later this year. She scored 106 runs – including an unbeaten 62 against Thailand – and took 12 wickets at 12.25, while going at fewer than four runs an over.
The West Indies duo Chinelle Henry and Aaliyah Alleyne are included in the lower middle order. Henry made 46 not out against Ireland and 51 not out against Bangladesh before blasting five sixes in a remarkable 17-ball 48 in their win over Thailand.
Alleyne took 12 wickets, including four for 39 against Bangladesh, two clear of Katherine Fraser and Nashra Sandhu, who are also selected.
Scotland star Fraser took three-wicket hauls against both the West Indies and Thailand, also chipping in with valuable runs, while Nashra took wickets in every match, including three apiece against Ireland and Thailand.
Sadia Iqbal rounds out the team after taking nine wickets at 16.22 and going at just 3.84 runs an over, providing a consistent performer for the hosts.
Rabeya Khan, who took three wickets in Bangladesh’s pivotal win over Ireland and six overall, is named as the 12th player.
Women’s World Cup Qualifier Team of the Tournament
Fatima Sana (Pakistan) (c), Hayley Matthews (West Indies), Muneeba Ali (Pakistan), Sharmin Akhter (Bangladesh), Kathryn Bryce (Scotland), Nigar Sultana (Bangladesh) (wk), Chinelle Henry (West Indies), Aaliyah Alleyne (West Indies), Katherine Fraser (Scotland), Nashra Sandhu (Pakistan), Sadia Iqbal (Pakistan)
Reserve Player:
Rabeya Khan (Bangladesh)
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