Karachi: The announcement of the 17-member national women’s cricket team for the tour of England has been made, with Nida Dar being retained as captain while Sadia Nawaz has been dropped from the team for the One Day series against the West Indies women’s team.
Three players – Ayesha Zafar, Gul Feroza, and Ramin Shamim – have been selected to be part of the T20 team against the West Indies. Former national captain and senior batter Bismah Maroof has announced her retirement from international cricket after suddenly withdrawing from the T20 series following the One Day series.
For the first time, a female chief security officer has been appointed for the women’s series by the PCB, with the Pakistan women’s cricket team set to play three T20 matches between May 11 and 17, and three One Day matches between May 23 and 29 during the tour of England.
The One Day matches are part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25, with Pakistan being in fifth place with 16 points in the ICC Women’s Championship consisting of 10 teams. The top five teams of the championship will directly qualify for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 along with host India.
The national women’s team of England, who will be touring after 2016, will depart for their destination on Sunday, May 5.
The Pakistan women’s squad for the tour of England includes Nida Dar (captain), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gul Feroza, Muneeba Ali (wicketkeeper), Najiha Alvi (wicketkeeper), Nashra Sandhu, Natalia Pervaiz, Ramin Shamim, Sadaf Shamim, Sadiya Iqbal, Tuba Hasan, Umme Hani, and Wahida Akhtar.
During the tour, the Pakistan women’s team will play a T20 warm-up match against the ECB Development XI on May 9, the first T20 in Birmingham on May 11, the second match in Northampton on May 17, and the third match in Leeds on May 19.
Similarly, on May 21, a One Day warm-up match against the ECB Development will be played in Northampton, with the first One Day match on May 23 in Derby, the second One Day match on May 26 in Taunton, and the third One Day match on May 29 in Chelmsford.