Fatima Sana Back at Helm as Pakistan Prepare for Asia Cup

Fatima Sana will lead Pakistan in the forthcoming Women’s Asia Cup, which begins on August 28 in Dubai. The selectors have announced a 15-member roster for the eight-team event.

Fatima Sana had skipped the T20I portion of Pakistan’s tour to Sri Lanka to fulfilll her commitments with Birmingham Phoenix, making her the first female Pakistani player to play in the event.

Sadia Iqbal, who was not on the Sri Lanka tour, and Gull Feroza, who missed the T20I leg but played in the one-dayers, have also returned to the team.

Sadia, Waheeda Akhtar, and Najiha Alvi are not part of Pakistan’s roster for the Asian Games, which will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, in September. In their place, Aliya Riaz, Tasmia Rubab, and Humna Bilal will join the Asian Games team. Veteran pacer Diana Baig was unable to earn a position in either team, and her name was also missing from the list of reserves.

The team will participate in a 10-day camp at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore from Sunday to August 25. Pakistan’s Asia Cup campaign begins on September 1 against Thailand, whom they will face again in the Asian Games quarterfinals on September 17, four days after the Asia Cup final.

Pakistan squad for Asian Games 2026: Fatim Sana (captain), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Humna Bilal, Momina Riasat, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan and Umm-e-Hani.