Lahore, 12 Oct 2023: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 15-member squad for the women’s team’s upcoming tour of Bangladesh, confirming Nida Dar will continue in her role as captain. The selection, headed by Chief Selector Saleem Jaffar, marks the return of Iram Javed to the national side after a year’s hiatus and sets the team to depart for Bangladesh on 20 October. They will engage in a six-match white-ball series that includes three ODIs, contributing to the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25.
Iram Javed, returning to the side, last represented Pakistan in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022 and participated in three women’s exhibition T20 matches in Rawalpindi earlier this year. Changes to the squad also include the exclusion of Shawaal Zulfiqar and Syeda Aroob Shah, both now part of the 28 probables of the Pakistan women’s emerging team, and the ongoing recovery of Fatima Sana from injury.
The squad, as per PCB, comprises Nida Dar (captain), Aliya Riaz, Bismah Maroof, Diana Baig, Ghulam Fatima, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali (wk), Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Umm-e-Hani, and Waheeda Akhtar, with non-traveling reserves – Amber Kainat, Omaima Sohail, and Sidra Nawaz (wk).
Support personnel accompanying the players include Nahida Khan (manager), Mauhtashim Rashid (interim head coach), Saleem Jaffar (bowling coach), Taufiq Umar (batting coach), Abdur Rehman (spin bowling coach for camp only), Muhammad Asfand Yar (strength and conditioning coach), Syed Nazir Ahmed (media manager), Rifat Asghar Gill (physiotherapist), and Zubair Ahmed (analyst).
Saleem Jaffar commented on the team’s composition and individual player prospects, highlighting the balance they aimed for between bat and ball, and noting that Iram Javed’s presence will fortify the batting lineup under Bangladesh’s playing conditions. He detailed the rationale behind players’ inclusion and exclusion, indicating that Shawaal Zulfiqar needs further grooming and anticipating Fatima Sana’s return in the series against New Zealand post-recovery.
The team will partake in a six-day camp at Ghani Institute for Cricket in DHA, Lahore starting from 14 October, where they will engage in varied practice sessions and a 50-over practice match before heading to Bangladesh via Dubai in the early hours of 20 October. The detailed itinerary for the series in Bangladesh will be announced subsequently by the home board.