Bismah to lead Pakistan women in South Africa

KARACHI: Pakistan women’s selection committee on Saturday announced the 15-player squads for next month’s ICC Women’s Championship and Twenty20 International series against hosts South Africa.

Urooj Mumtaz’s panel made just one change in the 14-player squad that defeated the Windies girls 2-1 in the ODI series. Off-spinner Saba Nazir has been replaced by uncapped spinner Rameen Shamim, while Jaweria Rauf, whose last ODI appearance was in January 2014, has been added.

In the T20I squad, there are two changes from the last series against the Windies. From the 14-player squad, Anam Amin and Natalia Pervaiz have been replaced by Jaweria Rauf and Kainat Imtiaz, while Rameen Shamin has also found a place in the 15-player squad.

In addition, the selectors have also named four reserves, Fareeha Mehmood, Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali and Saba Nazir.

“We have rewarded the girls for their outstanding achievements against the Windies girls by maintaining consistency in the ODI squad, while we have made some tweaks in the T20I squad as we look forward to next year’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020,” Chair of Pakistan women’s selection panel and former captain Urooj Mumtaz said.

“We have a good bunch of cricketers who have displayed their capabilities and potentials against the Windies girls and previous series. When we played South Africa in an ODI series last time, we narrowly lost 1-2, but I am hopeful we will be able to build on our success against the Windies girls and be able to do one better this time on the African safari.

“We have an excellent mix of senior and junior cricketers. I am sure under the wings of the experienced girls, the youngsters will thrive and make optimum use of the increased opportunities as these are extremely interesting times for women’s cricket as far as more chances of exposure and experience exist, with enhanced performance-related incentives.”

The team will be playing three ICC Women’s Championship 50-over matches on May 6, 9 and 12. They will also play five T20Is on May 15, 18, 19, 22 and 23.

Squad for ICC Women’s Championship: Bismah Maroof (captain), Aiman Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Javeria Wadood Khan, Jaweria Rauf, Kainat Imtiaz, Nahida Khan, Nashra Sundhu, Nida Dar, Rameen Shamim, Sana Mir, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wicketkeeper) and Omaima Sohail.

Squad for T20Is: Bismah Maroof (captain), Aiman Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Iram Javed, Javeria Wadood Khan, Jaweria Rauf, Kainat Imtiaz, Nashra Sundhu, Nida Dar, Rameen Shamim, Sana Mir, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wicketkeeper) and Omaima Sohail.