The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially unveiled a 15-member national squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, entrusting Fatima Sana to lead the side for a second consecutive edition. The announcement, made on Saturday, confirms that the same group of players will also compete in a preparatory tri-series in Ireland.
New Faces Ready for Global Stage
The selection panel has injected fresh talent into the lineup, with five players poised to make their debut on the sport’s biggest stage. Eyman Fatima, Natalia Pervaiz, Rameen Shamim, Saira Jabeen, and Tasmia Rubab are all in line for their first World Cup appearance. The squad selection follows Pakistan’s recent dominant 3-0 T20I series sweep against Zimbabwe in Karachi, a performance the PCB noted provided crucial preparation.
Captain Fatima Sana, 24, brings vital experience, having previously led the team during the 2024 tournament in the UAE. She will be supported by a blend of seasoned campaigners and emerging stars as Pakistan aims to navigate a challenging group stage.
Road to the Trophy
Before the main event, Pakistan will fine-tune their strategies in the Ireland tri-series, running from May 28 to June 4 in Dublin, where they will face the hosts and the West Indies. The team will then travel to England for two official warm-up matches in Derby, taking on Sri Lanka on June 6 and Scotland on June 9.
The World Cup campaign kicks off with a high-voltage clash against arch-rivals India at Edgbaston in Birmingham on June 14. The fixtures continue with matches against South Africa (June 17, Edgbaston), Bangladesh (June 20, Southampton), Australia (June 23, Leeds), and the Netherlands (June 27, Bristol). The semi-finals are scheduled for June 30 and July 2, with the ultimate final set to be played at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on July 5.
Management and Full Squad
The PCB has also confirmed the support staff, naming Wahab Riaz as mentor and head coach, with Ayesha Ashhar serving as manager. The coaching panel includes Abdur Rehman (spin bowling), Umaid Asif (fast bowling), Abdul Majeed (fielding), and Imran Farhat (batting).
Pakistan Squad: 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.
Reserves: Amber Kainat, Momina Riasat, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, and Umm-e-Hani.
