Multan: Starting this Monday, Multan Cricket Stadium is poised to host its first-ever international women’s T20I series, featuring Pakistan under the captaincy of Fatima Sana against Laura Wolvaardt’s South Africa. The three-match Bank Alfalah T20I series offers both teams a crucial prelude to next month’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE.
According to Pakistan Cricket Board, this series marks an important event in the cricket calendar for both teams. It’s the first time Multan will serve as a venue for a T20I series, though it has previously hosted 11 ODIs and six Test matches. With the first two matches starting at 7 pm and the third at 10 am, the series not only serves as high-level competition but also as a draw for fans, with free entry to boost stadium attendance.
The engagement is part of a broader preparation for the forthcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. South Africa, the runners-up in the last edition, and Pakistan, are fine-tuning their squads in what promises to be a closely contested series. This is the second consecutive year South Africa has toured Pakistan, following a similar schedule last year that included three T20Is and three ODIs.
To facilitate fan participation, entrance to the stadium will be free of charge, requiring only an original ID card for entry. For those unable to attend, the matches will be broadcast in high definition on A Sports and live-streamed across Pakistan on the PCB’s official YouTube channel.
Following this series, both teams will head to the UAE, with South Africa departing on September 21 and Pakistan on September 23. Pakistan’s World Cup campaign will kick off against Sri Lanka on October 3 in Sharjah, with subsequent matches against other Group A members, including India, Australia, and New Zealand.