In a significant change to Pakistan’s women’s cricket squad for the upcoming 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal has been named as the replacement for the injured Fatima Sana. The decision to include 28-year-old Sadia in the 15-member squad was made after approval from the technical committee of the Asian Games.
The alteration in the squad comes as right-arm fast bowler Fatima Sana sustained an injury during the second ODI against South Africa at the National Bank Stadium on September 11. As a result, she was rested for the third ODI against South Africa on September 14. Subsequent medical assessments, including MRI scans and evaluations by the PCB medical panel, confirmed that Fatima had suffered an injury to her right thigh, rendering her unavailable for the 19th Asian Games.
With a goal to secure a third consecutive gold medal at the Asian Games, the Pakistan women’s team is preparing to depart for China from Lahore via Doha tonight.
According to the ICC T20I rankings and tournament rules, Pakistan’s women’s team will enter the competition from the quarter-finals, scheduled to take place on September 21 and 22. The semi-finals are slated for September 24, with the final match set to unfold on September 25. Additionally, the contest for the Bronze medal will also occur on Monday, September 25.
Pakistan’s 15-member squad for the 19th Asian Games consists of:
- Nida Dar (captain)
- Aliya Riaz
- Anoosha Nasir
- Diana Baig
- Muneeba Ali
- Najiha Alvi
- Nashra Sundhu
- Nataliya Parvaiz
- Omaima Sohail
- Sadaf Shamas
- Sadia Iqbal
- Shawaal Zulfiqar
- Sidra Amin
- Syeda Aroob Shah
- Umm-e-Hani
The player support staff accompanying the squad includes Ayesha Ashhar (team manager), Mauhtashim Rashid (interim head coach), Saleem Jaffer (bowling coach), Taufiq Umar (batting coach), and Rifat Gill (physiotherapist).
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