Pakistan Women's Cricket Team Gears Up for ODI World Cup Qualifiers
Pakistan Women's cricket team is set to return to competitive action, participating in the ODI World Cup Qualifiers scheduled to take place in Lahore from April 9th to 19th. The squad includes a welcome return for batter Shawaal Zulfiqar, who has been sidelined since December 2023 due to a shoulder injury sustained during Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand.
Key Updates and Squad Details
- Shawwal Zulfiqar's Return: The 19-year-old batter's inclusion marks a significant boost for the team, following a period of rehabilitation. Her previous impactful performance, scoring 41 in a crucial T20I match against New Zealand, highlights her potential.
- Pakistan Women's Inactivity: The team has been largely inactive since their group-stage exit at the T20 World Cup in the UAE in October 2023, with their last ODI being played during the tour of England in May 2024.
- Fatima Sana Leads: Fatima Sana will continue to captain the 15-player squad. Muneeba Ali has been named as the vice-captain.
Squad Composition
The Pakistan squad for the qualifiers is as follows:
- Fatima Sana (capt)
- Muneeba Ali (vice-capt)
- Aliya Riaz
- Diana Baig
- Gull Feroza
- Najiha Alvi (wk)
- Nashra Sundhu
- Natalia Parvaiz
- Omaima Sohail
- Rameen Shamim
- Sadia Iqbal
- Shawaal Zulfiqar
- Sidra Amin
- Sidra Nawaz (wk)
- Syeda Aroob Shah
Reserve Players: Ghulam Fatima, Waheeda Akhtar, Umm-e-Hani
Preparation and Tournament Details
The team is currently undergoing a training camp, focusing on regaining match fitness and rhythm through warm-up games. According to a statement from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the squad selection was based on a thorough evaluation of players' fitness and form during the preparation camp.
Qualification and Future Matches
The ODI World Cup Qualifiers will feature six teams: Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland, Thailand, and West Indies. The top two teams will qualify for the main ODI World Cup, which will be hosted by India in September-October 2024.
Due to an agreement with the International Cricket Council (ICC), Pakistan's matches in the main World Cup, should they qualify, will be played in either the UAE or Sri Lanka until 2027, when one of the countries will host ICC tournaments. Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and India have already secured their places in the main tournament.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: When and where are the ODI World Cup Qualifiers taking place? A: The qualifiers will be held in Lahore, Pakistan, from April 9th to 19th, 2024.
Q: Who is the captain of the Pakistan Women's team? A: Fatima Sana is the captain, with Muneeba Ali as the vice-captain.
Q: Why are Pakistan’s World Cup matches potentially being played in the UAE or Sri Lanka? A: This is due to an agreement with the ICC regarding neutral venues for Pakistan's ICC tournament matches until 2027.
Q: Which teams have already qualified for the main ODI World Cup? A: Australia, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and India have already qualified.