LAHORE: Bismah Maroof will lead the national side in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand to be played from 4 March till 3 April.
The national women’s selection committee led by Asmavia Iqbal and including Saleem Jaffar and Taufeeq Umar announced the squad for the tournament.
The event will mark Bismah’s return to international cricket after two years as she took break from the game for the birth of her first child in December 2020. She will be accompanied by a support person, as part of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s parental policy, to help her look after the newborn, while keeping her focus on cricket.
The selectors called up leg-spinner Ghulam Fatima, who last played for Pakistan in 2018, and opener Nahida Khan, whose last outing in Pakistan colours was last January, after impressive performances in practice matches during the recent Karachi camp.
Experienced all-rounder Nida Dar has been appointed as the vice-captain for the World Cup. Batter Iram Javed, all-rounder Tuba Hassan and wicketkeeper Najiha Alvi are the travelling reserves.
Bismah Maroof said it was a great honour to lead her country into another World Cup. “I am thrilled to be back in action and do what I love and have dedicated my life to.”
“The recent selection matches proved to be fruitful for me and the whole side as we got some match practice under competitive and challenging environment leading into the mega event. The aim is to reach the World Cup semi-finals and I believe this team has the potential to pull it off.”
Kainat Imtiaz and Sadia Iqbal who were part of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier squad miss out on selections because of injuries. The Pakistani squad will begin the final phase of their preparations with a 10-day pre-departure camp in Karachi from 27 January. They will depart for NZ on 8 February.
Squad
Bismah Maroof (captain), Nida Dar (vice-captain), Aiman Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Ghulam Fatima, Javeria Khan, Muneeba Ali, Nahida Khan, Nashra Sandhu, Omaima Sohail, Sidra Amin, and Sidra Nawaz.
Traveling reserves: Iram Javed, Najiha Alvi and Tuba Hassan.
Fixtures
- 6 March – Pakistan v India at Bay Oval, Tauranga
- 8 March – Pakistan v Australia at Bay Oval, Tauranga
- 11 March – Pakistan v South Africa at Bay Oval, Tauranga
- 14 March – Pakistan v Bangladesh at Seddon Park, Hamilton
- 21 March – Pakistan v West Indies at Seddon Park, Hamilton
- 24 March – Pakistan v England at Hagley Oval, Christchurch
- 26 March – Pakistan v New Zealand at Hagley Oval, Christchurch
