Karachi, Mahnoor Aftab has been named the captain of the Pakistan Women U19 cricket team for the upcoming T20 tri-series in Bangladesh, involving teams from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The tournament, set to take place in Cox’s Bazar from January 24 to February 2, will feature a double round-robin format followed by a final. Laiba Nasir has been appointed as the vice-captain of the squad.

According to Pakistan Cricket Board, the Women’s National Selection Committee, headed by Saleem Jaffar, has finalized a 15-member squad for the series. The selection follows a probables camp held in Karachi, where 23 players trained and prepared for the upcoming matches. The camp ran from January 10 to 18 at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre, with the National Selection Committee closely monitoring the players’ progress.

The Pakistan Women U19 squad includes six players who previously represented the country at the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa last year. Alongside captain Mahnoor Aftab and vice-captain Laiba Nasir, Anosha Nasir, Eyman Fatima, Rida Aslam, and Zaib-un-Nisa are part of this experienced contingent. The team also features a mix of emerging talents, ensuring a balance of experience and youth.

The squad comprises Mahnoor Aftab (Captain), Laiba Nasir (Vice-Captain), Anosha Nasir, Areesha Ansari, Eyman Fatima, Haleema Dua Zafar, Komal Khan (Wicketkeeper), Maham Anees, Memoona Khalid, Mubeen Ahmed, Ravail Farhan, Rida Aslam, Samiya Afsar, Zaib un Nisa, and Zoofishan Ayyaz, with four non-traveling reserves. The team management includes Wasim Yousafi as the head coach, along with a support staff of specialists.

Pakistan Women U19 is scheduled to depart for Bangladesh on January 19 from Karachi. The team’s first match in the tri-series will be against Sri Lanka Women U19 on January 25. The series promises to be a competitive and exciting showcase of the emerging talent in women’s cricket in the region.