KARACHI: Nida Dar will lead Pakistan in the upcoming women’s T20 Asia Cup, which will be held in Dambulla, Sri Lanka from July 19-28, the country’s cricket board said on Sunday while also announcing the national squad following a four-day camp.

“Ayesha Zafar, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda Akhtar, who were part of the 17-member squad that toured England last month, have been left out,” said the Pakistan Cricket Board.

“Instead, the selectors have named Iram Javed, Omaima Sohail, Syeda Aroob Shah and Tasmia Rubab.”

Iram’s last played a Twenty20 International in October last year. Omaima, meanwhile, last featured in the format in December. Aroob’s seventh and last appearance in a T20I was in Karachi against South Africa in September 2023.

Tasmia, the 22-year-old left-arm fast bowler, is the only uncapped player in the side. She played for Pakistan A against West Indies A and Thailand in November 2023.

Representing Multan in the recently held National Women’s One-Day Tournament, Tasmia scored 86 runs and took 12 wickets. Tasmia also took four wickets at an economy-rate of 6.36 in the National Women’s T20 Tournament.

The selected players will undergo a preparatory training camp ahead of the tournament here from July 5 before departing for Sri Lanka on July 16.

Head coach Muhammad Wasim will supervise the camp and will be supported by Abdur Rehman (spin bowling coach), Junaid Khan (assistant coach – bowling) and Hanif Malik (assistant coach – fielding).

Pakistan are placed in Group ‘A’ along with India, Nepal and UAE, while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand and Malaysia are in Group ‘B’. The top two teams from each group will play in the semi-finals on July 26.

Pakistan will take on India on the opening day of the tournament on July 19, while their matches against Nepal and UAE will be played on July 21 and 23.

Squad: Nida Dar (captain), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali, Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sundhu, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab and Tuba Hassan.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2024