In a bittersweet reshuffle, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a new 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, with the eye-catching inclusion of Fatima Sana as the new captain. Taking over from Nida Dar, Fatima Sana is set to lead Pakistan’s women’s cricket team in the prestigious tournament, marking a significant change in the team’s leadership dynamics.
Notably, the PCB’s decision to replace Nida Dar as captain appears to be performance-driven. The 37-year-old cricketer has experienced a challenging tenure as the T20I captain of Pakistan. Under her leadership, the team played 24 T20Is but managed to secure victory in only nine of these matches, resulting in 15 losses. This underwhelming performance has apparently prompted the selectors to seek a fresh direction for the squad, with Fatima Sana now taking the helm.
PCB issued a press release explaining that this decision was made unanimously by the selection committee, which includes prominent figures like Asad Shafiq and Batool Fatima. The selection committee expressed their confidence in Fatima Sana’s potential to steer the team in a positive direction during the highly competitive World Cup.
Nevertheless, Fatima’s appointment is somewhat controversial due to her limited leadership experience in the T20I format. The 22-year-old cricketer has not yet captained the senior side in T20Is but has held the captaincy role in two ODIs. In these matches, she achieved one win and one loss, providing a modest glimpse into her capability as a leader on the field.
The team composition for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup reflects mostly familiar faces from Pakistan’s squad in the ACC Women’s Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, with only one significant change. Batter Sadaf Shamas has been called up to the World Cup squad in place of wicketkeeper Najiha Alvi, who will serve as a traveling reserve for the tournament.
The finalized squad features talented players across various disciplines, including:
– **Fatima Sana (captain)**: The young all-rounder entrusted with leading the team.
– **Aliya Riaz**: Known for her solid middle-order batting and occasional off-spin.
– **Diana Baig**: One of the most experienced pace bowlers in the squad.
– **Gull Feroza**: Promising talent with capabilities in batting and fielding.
– **Iram Javed**: A hard-hitting batswoman with experience in crucial matches.
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– **Muneeba Ali (wicket-keeper)**: A reliable wicketkeeper-batsman.
– **Nashra Sandhu**: A skilled left-arm spinner with a knack for taking wickets.
– **Nida Dar**: The former captain who remains a valuable player with her all-round abilities.
– **Omaima Sohail**: An aggressive batswoman who can change the course of a game.
– **Sadaf Shamas**: The new call-up seeking to make her mark on the international stage.
– **Sadia Iqbal**: Included subject to fitness, known for her sharp spin bowling.
– **Sidra Amin**: A top-order batswoman known for her consistent performance.
– **Syeda Aroob Shah**: A young leg-spinner with great potential.
– **Tasmia Rubab**: Another promising young player, adding depth to the team.
– **Tuba Hassan**: Adds further strength to the bowling department.
Traveling reserve:
– **Najiha Alvi (wicket-keeper)**: Standing by to reinforce the squad if required.
Non-traveling reserves were also announced as Rameen Shamim and Umm-e-Hani, who will act as backup options for the team.
This selection marks an intriguing blend of experience and fresh talent. The decision to replace Nida Dar with Fatima Sana is poised to impact the team dynamics significantly. While Nida remains a crucial member of the squad due to her invaluable all-round contributions, the leadership baton passed to Fatima heralds a new chapter for Pakistan’s T20I women’s cricket team.
As all eyes turn to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the Pakistani squad under its new captain will aim to deliver strong performances and bring glory to the nation. The mix of seasoned campaigners and budding talents presents a promising outlook for fans, who eagerly anticipate how this revamped leadership will fare on the world stage.
