The three ODIs, which are part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25, are scheduled to be held from 18 to 23 April, with the five T20Is following from 26 April to 3 May
Five female cricketers have been selected to rejoin the white-ball squads, as the National Women’s Selection Committee, headed by Saleem Jaffar, revealed the 16-member ODI and T20I squads set to compete against the West Indies women’s team.
The three ODIs, which are part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25, are scheduled to be held from 18 to 23 April, with the five T20Is following from 26 April to 3 May. All eight matches are slated to take place at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi.
Wicketkeeper-batter Sidra Nawaz (67 ODIs, 56 T20Is), who last played for the Pakistan women’s team during the ODI series against South Africa in Karachi in September 2023, has been brought back into the squad for the ODI series.
Four players - Ayesha Zafar (29 ODIs, 20 T20Is), Gull Feroza (2 T20Is), Rameen Shamim (3 ODIs, 4 T20Is), and Tuba Hassan (selected in both squads) (1 ODI, 21 T20Is) - have been called back for the T20Is. Ayesha's last appearance for Pakistan in the T20I format was against South Africa in 2021, Gull Feroza's most recent match for the Pakistan women’s team in the T20I format was against Sri Lanka in 2022, and Rameen's last T20I game was against South Africa in 2019. Tuba, who debuted in ODIs against Australia in 2023, was last seen in the T20I format against England in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2023.
Ayesha, Gull Feroza, and Rameen, included in the T20I squad, will first participate in the National Women’s One-Day Tournament starting in Faisalabad on 17 April. Following the one-day tournament, these three players will rejoin the national team squad for the T20I series.
Once the ODI series concludes, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Nawaz, and Waheeda Akhtar will head to Faisalabad to partake in the domestic one-day tournament.
Leg-spinner Ghulam Fatima, who was part of the 20-player camp in Karachi, has been given a break to fully recover from minor injuries sustained in a recent car accident. Bismah Maroof, also involved in the accident, will undergo a fitness assessment next week before a decision is made regarding her inclusion.
Saleem Jaffar, Chief Selector: “The selection committee, in consultation with captain Nida Dar and interim head coach, has finalised 16-member squads for the ODI and T20I series. Five players in the squads return due to their performances in the domestic tournament and good skills they demonstrated in the camp.
“The series against the West Indies is important for us as the ODIs are part of ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25. We are aiming to secure maximum points in the series, taking advantage of our home conditions, to enhance our chances for direct qualification for next year’s ICC Women’s ODI World Cup.
“The series against the West Indies also presents an opportunity for the players to showcase their skills and secure berths for next month’s England tour. The ongoing domestic one-day tournament continues to provide chances to players not involved in the series against the West Indies to produce strong performance and stake claims for places for the England series.”
Pakistan women squad for ODI:
Nida Dar (captain), Aliya Riaz, Bismah Maroof*, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali, Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda Akhtar
Pakistan women squad for T20I:
Nida Dar (captain), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Bismah Maroof*, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali (wk), Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Tuba Hassan and Umm-e-Hani
*Subject to fitness
Player support personnel: Saira Iftikhar (manager), Mauhtashim Rashid (interim head coach), Saleem Jaffar (bowling coach), Taufeeq Umar (batting coach), Hanif Malik (fielding coach), Muhammad Javed (strength and conditioning coach), Syed Nazir Ahmed (media manager), Rabia Siddiq (physiotherapist), Zubair Ahmed (analyst) and Nadia Arif (masseuse)
To prevent scheduling conflicts with the Pakistan v New Zealand Men’s T20I series overlapping with the first and second ODIs between Pakistan and West Indies women’s teams, the PCB management has adjusted the timings of the women’s matches. They will now start at 9:30 am, with the third ODI at 3:30 pm, and the T20Is beginning at 7:30 pm.
The 16-member ODI squad will convene in Karachi on 13 April for training sessions scheduled from 14 to 17 April at the National Bank Stadium. The West Indies women’s cricket team is set to arrive in Karachi on 14 April. Further details regarding the media advisory for the series will be shared soon.
Series schedule: