The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced the national women’s squads for the ACC Women’s Asia Cup 2026 and the 20th Asian Games, with Fatima Sana returning to captain in both tournaments.
Fatima resumes captaincy after missing Pakistan’s recent T20I series against Sri Lanka due to her commitments in The Hundred.
The eight-team ACC Women’s Asia Cup will be held in Dubai from August 28 to September 13, with Pakistan drawn in Group A alongside India, Thailand and Hong Kong, China, the cricket board said in a statement.
Group B comprises Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.
Pakistan will begin their campaign against Thailand on September 1 before facing arch-rivals India on September 5 and Hong Kong, China on September 7.
The semi-finals are scheduled for September 10 and 11, while the final will be played on September 13.
The national side will then travel to Japan for the women’s cricket competition at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi prefecture.
Seeded alongside Thailand, Pakistan will face them in the fourth quarter-final on September 17.
A victory would set up a semi-final clash on September 20 against either Sri Lanka or Malaysia, with the bronze and gold medal matches scheduled for September 22.
Pakistan had enjoyed major successes at the Asian Games, winning gold medals in the 2010 and 2014 editions before finishing fourth at the most recent event in 2022.
The squads for both tournaments largely retain a core group of players, with captain Fatima joined by Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Ayesha Zafar, Gull Feroza, Saira Jabeen, Eyman Fatima, Eman Naseer, Umm-e-Hani, Tuba Hassan, Nashra Sundhu and Momina Riasat in both competitions.
Najiha Alvi, Waheeda Akhtar and Sadia Iqbal have been included in the Asia Cup squad, while Aliya Riaz, Tasmia Rubab and Humna Bilal will feature in the Asian Games squad.
Ahead of the tournaments, the national women’s team will attend a training camp at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore from August 16 to 25.
Asia Cup squad
Fatima Sana (captain), Ayesha Zafar, Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Momina Riasat, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wicketkeeper), Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sundhu, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda Akhtar.
20th Asian Games squad
Fatima Sana (captain), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Humna Bilal, Momina Riasat, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wicketkeeper), Nashra Sundhu, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan and Umm-e-Hani.
Pakistan’s fixtures at the Women’s Asia Cup
- September 1: Pakistan vs Thailand
- September 5: Pakistan vs India
- September 7: Pakistan vs Hong Kong, China
- September 10: Semi-final 1
- September 11: Semi-final 2
- September 13: Final
Pakistan’s schedule at the Asian Games
- September 17: Quarter-final – Pakistan vs Thailand
- September 20: Semi-finals
- September 22: Bronze medal and gold medal matches
