The selectors have shown faith in Pakistan’s T20I squad that managed to pull a clean sweep against Sri Lanka by retaining them for the Commonwealth games scheduled this July. Pakistan will compete at a tri-series in Ireland before moving ahead to the United Kingdom for their Commonwealth games. The same eighteen player team will be seen competing at both events. Pakistan chief selector Asmavia Iqbal, coach David Hemp and captain BismahMarof have taken a joint call in this affair after the team’s impressive performance at Karachi.
Three reserve players too, viz. Ghulam Fatima, Sadaf Shamas and Umme Hani have been announced. The tightly packed month of July will begin in Islamabad where the team will undergo extensive training before they depart for the tri-series against Australia and Ireland on the 12th of July. The tri-series will be held in Belfast from 16-24 July and will face Barbados, India and Australia at the Commonwealth Games on 29th July, 31st July and 3rd August, respectively.
Having named the squad, chief selector Asmavia Iqbal said, “Following a successful series against Sri Lanka, we have decided to retain the same winning combination. Not only our senior cricketers in the side displayed great cricketing acumen also our youngsters were outstanding and have raised their hands whenever the team needed them to. We are delighted with the start Tuba Hassan has had to her international career and feel her leg-spin will be a potent weapon for us in the days ahead. Ayesha Naseem produced a match winning innings in the second match of the T20Is against Sri Lanka and proved her big-hitting ability. The tri-series in Ireland and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games will test the abilities of our players and I have all the belief in them that they will live up to the expectations and show consistent results.”
Tania Mallick, head of Women’s cricket congratulated the team stating, “I want to congratulate our team for putting up a solid and dominating display in Karachi against Sri Lanka and I am sure these girls will continue their form in the ICC Women’s Championship fixtures. Our team has all the potential to do well in the United Kingdom and I wish them the very best for the tri-series and Commonwealth Games. I want to thank the Commonwealth Games for accepting our request to accommodate our captain BismahMaroof’s family at the games village which will allow her to focus on the task at hand without any worries about her young infant daughter.”
Pakistan Squad:
Bismah Maroof (C), Aimen Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Naseem, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gull Feroza (WK), Iram Javed, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (WK), Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal and Tuba Hassan
Pakistan’s fixtures:
Tri-series at Belfast
16 July – v Australia
19 July – v Ireland
23 July – v Australia
24 July – v Ireland
Commonwealth Games at Birmingham:
29 July – v Barbados
31 July – v India
3 August – v Australia
