LAHORE: While Pakistan batter Bismah Maroof has confirmed her availability for the 2022 ICC Women’s World Cup and will participate in warm-up matches, women chief selector Urooj Mumtaz stepped down as chief selector, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Tuesday.

The PCB also announced 36 probables for the training camp to be held in Karachi as part of the women team’s selection and preparation for the 2022 World Cup being held in New Zealand from March 4 to April 3.

Bismah, who has played 108 ODIs and T20Is each in a career that started in 2006, commenced her maternity leave in December 2020 and gave birth to a baby girl in August 2021. She has already been re-integrated into cricketing activities and has resumed fitness sessions as part of her post-childbirth rehabilitation at the National High Performance Centre. She will soon commence net practice after overcoming a thumb injury.

“Under the policy, if Bismah is selected, she will be allowed to be accompanied by her dependent child and one support person of her choice,” the PCB stated.

“Bismah will be one of the 36 probables who will feature in a seven-match tri-series at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre from Jan 10-19. The women players will be split into two squads and will be joined by a local boys’ side with the New Zealand-bound squad to be named on Jan 25,” added the PCB statement.

First Urooj stepped down as the head of PCB women’s wing during Ramiz’s tenure and now she has quit as the chief selector.

Meanwhile, the PCB confirmed Urooj has stepped down as the chair of the women’s selection committee to focus on her professional commitments as well as to pursue other opportunities within the game.

Asmavia Iqbal has been named as the new head of the selection panel and will be assisted by junior selection committee members Saleem Jaffar and Taufeeq Umar.

Probables for practice matches:

Aimen Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Anoosha Nasir, Ayesha Bilal, Ayesha Naseem, Ayesha Zafar, Nahida Khan, Bismah Maroof, Diana Baig, Fareeha Mehmood, Fatima Sana Khan, Ghulam Fatima (subject to fitness), Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Javeria Rauf, Javeria Khan, Kainat Hafeez, Kainat Imtiaz (subject to fitness), Maham Tariq, Muneeba Ali, Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sandhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Ramin Shameem, Saba Nazir, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Saima Malik, Sidra Ameen, Sidra Nawaz, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2021