Pakistan retain Fatima Sana as captain for Women’s T20 World Cup, Ireland tri-series

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board has named a 15-player squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 and the tri-series in Ireland, retaining Fatima Sana as captain for both assignments.

The same group will represent Pakistan in the tri-series in Dublin from May 28 to June 4 and in the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in England and Wales from June 12 to July 5.

According to the PCB, five players are in line to make their first appearance at the Women’s T20 World Cup. Eyman Fatima, Natalia Pervaiz, Rameen Shamim, Saira Jabeen and Tasmia Rubab have all been included in the squad for what will be their debut tournament at that level.

Fatima, 24, is set to feature in her third Women’s T20 World Cup and will lead Pakistan for the second consecutive edition after also captaining the side in the 2024 tournament in the UAE.

Pakistan head into the upcoming events after completing a 3-0 T20I series sweep over Zimbabwe in Karachi. The PCB said that series provided players with an opportunity to display their abilities and prepare for the tournaments ahead.

Tri-series and World Cup schedule

Pakistan will play four matches in the Ireland tri-series, where the hosts and West Indies are the other participating teams.

Before the World Cup begins, Pakistan are due to play two warm-up matches in Derby. They will face Sri Lanka on June 6 and Scotland on June 9.

Pakistan’s World Cup campaign will open against India at Edgbaston in Birmingham on June 14. They will then meet South Africa at the same venue on June 17.

The side will next take on Bangladesh at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton on June 20, Australia at Headingley in Leeds on June 23, and the Netherlands at the Bristol County Ground in Bristol on June 27.

The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals, which are scheduled for June 30 and July 2. The final is set to be played at Lord's Cricket Ground in London on July 5.

Support staff and squad

Wahab Riaz has been appointed mentor and head coach, while Ayesha Ashhar will serve as manager. The support staff also includes Abdur Rehman as spin bowling coach, Umaid Asif as fast bowling coach, Abdul Majeed as fielding coach and Imran Farhat as batting coach.

The squad comprises Fatima Sana (captain), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Pervaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Tasmia Rubab and Tuba Hassan.

The reserves are Amber Kainat, Momina Riasat, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah and Umm-e-Hani.