The Pakistan women's cricket team has finalized its squads for the upcoming Asia Cup and Asian Games, opting to exclude veteran pace bowler Diana Baig from both selections. The decision follows a period of inconsistent performances for the team, which has struggled to find momentum, winning only two of its last 10 completed matches. Baig, who made her T20I debut in 2015, faced difficulties maintaining her rhythm during the recent T20 World Cup, particularly against Australia and the Netherlands, after being benched for the opening three matches.
Aliya Riaz is another experienced player sidelined for the Asia Cup. While her exclusion from the Asian Games was avoided due to the squad list being submitted in June—prior to her challenging run in the T20 World Cup—her recent form had faced scrutiny, specifically regarding dropped catches during crucial moments. Riaz struggled to contribute with the bat as well, managing only 37 runs across four matches in the recent T20I series against Sri Lanka.
Captain Fatima Sana returns to lead the side in both tournaments. She had previously missed the Sri Lanka series to compete in the women's Hundred. The fast-bowling unit will feature Saira Jabeen, Tasmia Rubab, and Waheeda Akhtar. While Jabeen is included in both squads, the selection committee has split the roles for the other two: Waheeda Akhtar will represent the team in the Asia Cup in Dubai, while Tasmia Rubab takes her place for the Asian Games in Japan.
The squads also feature three changes compared to previous iterations, with wicketkeeper Najiha Alvi and left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal included specifically for the Asia Cup roster. Pakistan’s recent form includes a disappointing T20 World Cup where they lost four of their five matches, along with losses to the West Indies and Ireland during a tri-nation series in Dublin. The team aims for a turnaround as they prepare to face India, Hong Kong, and Thailand in the Asia Cup group stage, starting September 1 against Thailand. Their Asian Games campaign is scheduled to begin on September 17 with a quarter-final match against Thailand.
Reserves: Tasmia Rubab, Humna Bilal, Maham Anees, Sadaf Shamas
Diana BaigAliya RiazSaira JabeenTasmia RubabWaheeda AkhtarNajiha AlviSadia IqbalPakistan WomenWomen's Twenty20 Asia Cup
