Fatima Sana to Lead Pakistan in Asia Cup, Asian Games

ISLAMABAD: (Sports Reporter) – Pakistan has announced separate 15-member squads for the Women’s Asia Cup and the Asian Games, with Fatima Sana appointed captain for both tournaments.

Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Ayesha Zafar and Gull Feroza have been selected in both squads. Saira Jabeen, Eman Fatima, Eman Naseer, Umm-e-Hani, Tuba Hassan, Nashra Sandhu and Momina Riasat are also part of both teams.

The Asia Cup squad includes Najiha Alvi, Waheeda Akhtar and Sadia Iqbal, while Aliya Riaz, Tasmiya Rubab and Humna Bilal have been selected for the Asian Games.

Pakistan will hold a training camp at the National Cricket Academy from August 16 to 25 as preparations intensify for the two major tournaments.

The DP World Women’s Asia Cup will be held in Dubai from August 28 to September 13. Pakistan is in Group A with India, Thailand and Hong Kong, China, while Group B features Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.

Pakistan will begin its campaign against Thailand on September 1, followed by a highly anticipated clash with India on September 5. The team will then face Hong Kong, China, on September 7.

The semi-finals are scheduled for September 10 and 11, with the final set for September 13 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Following the Asia Cup, Pakistan will travel to Japan for the women’s cricket competition at the 20th Asian Games, scheduled from September 17 to 22. Pakistan will face Thailand in the quarter-final on September 17 at Kurogane Athletic Park in Aichi.

If Pakistan advances to the semi-finals, it will face either Sri Lanka or Malaysia on September 20. The bronze-medal and gold-medal matches will be played on September 22.

Pakistan has a strong Asian Games record, having won women’s cricket gold medals in 2010 and 2014. The team now faces a demanding schedule with both major tournaments taking place within a short period.