LAHORE (Web Desk)- The women’s team for the Asian Games, which will take place in China’s Hangzhou, was unveiled by the Pakistan Cricket Board on Tuesday.
Anoosha Nasir, a left-arm spinner, and Shawaal Zulfiqar, a right-handed batter, have received their first calls to the senior women’s team of Pakistan for the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China as a result of their outstanding achievements in the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup and Emerging Women’s Teams Asia Cup.
Diana Baig, who has recovered from a finger injury she suffered in the third and final One-Day International against Australia in January of this year, is also a member of the 15-player team.
The Pakistan women’s team will be going for a hat-trick when they compete in this year’s competition, which is slated to take place from September 19 to 26. They have won gold medals in the previous two editions, held in Guangzhou, China in 2010 and Incheon, South Korea in 2014. T20 format will be used for the competition.
According to the ICC T20I rankings and the rules of the competition, the Pakistan women’s team will participate in the event beginning with the quarterfinals, which are scheduled for 22–24 September. On September 25, the semi-final matches will be played, and on September 26, the championship game will be played. On Tuesday, September 26, there will also be a match for the bronze medal.
The women’s selection committee, which was chaired by Saleem Jaffar, had discussions with head coach Mark Coles and captain Nida Dar before settling on the final 15-player roster.
Nida Dar (captain) leads the squad, which also includes Aliya Riaz, Anoosha Nasir, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sundhu, Nataliya Parvaiz, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, and Umm-e-
Prior to the Asian Games, Pakistani women will compete in a home series against South Africa that takes place in Karachi from 1–14 September and consists of three T20Is and three ODIs (part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2022–25). The lineup for the bilateral series will be revealed soon.
Due to the Asian Games’ laws and regulations prohibiting competitors from carrying their children, the former captain Bismah Maroof decided not to compete.
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup participant Ayesha Naseem stated her wish to retire from the sport, and the board granted her request.