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LAHORE: All-rounder Fatima Sana will captain Pakistan at the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales and the preceding tri-series in Ireland, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Saturday.
The 24-year-old leads a 15-member squad selected for both tournaments. This marks the second consecutive global tournament at the helm for Sana, who previously captained the national side during the 2024 edition in the United Arab Emirates.
Pakistan enters the crucial preparation phase in high spirits following a dominant 3-0 clean sweep against Zimbabwe in a recent Twenty20 international series in Karachi.
The national selection committee has opted for a blend of tournament experience and fresh talent. Uncapped or emerging players Eyman Fatima, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Saira Jabeen, and Tasmia Rubab have all been named to feature in their first-ever T20 World Cup.
The squad will first travel to Dublin for a tri-series against hosts Ireland and the West Indies from May 28 to June 4, playing four matches. The tournament serves as a direct warm-up for the expanded 12-team World Cup, which runs from June 12 to July 5.
Following the tri-series, Pakistan will move to Derby to play two official warm-up fixtures against Sri Lanka on June 6 and Scotland on June 9.
Pakistan opens its World Cup campaign against rivals India on June 14 at Edgbaston in Birmingham. They remain at the venue to face South Africa on June 17, before traveling to Southampton to play Bangladesh on June 20.
The team will then play Australia at Headingley on June 23 and conclude their group stage matches against the Netherlands in Bristol on June 27. The top two teams from the group will advance to the semi-finals, with the final scheduled for July 5 at Lord’s in London.
Former international bowler Wahab Riaz will lead the support staff as mentor and head coach, joined by a coaching panel including Imran Farhat for batting and Abdur Rehman for spin bowling.
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
Player support personnel: Ayesha Ashhar (manager), Wahab Riaz (mentor/head coach), Abdur Rehman (spin bowling coach), Umaid Asif (fast bowling coach), Abdul Majeed (fielding coach), Imran Farhat (batting coach), Muhammad Arslan (media manager for tri-series only), Raza Kitchlew (media manager for World Cup), Waleed Ahmed (analyst), Moeen (strength and conditioning coach), Alveena Awan (team doctor), Tehreem Sumbal (physiotherapist) and Kiran Shahzadi (masseuse)
Pakistan fixtures in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026
14 June v India, Birmingham
17 June v South Africa, Birmingham
20 June v Bangladesh, Southampton
23 June v Australia, Headingley
27 June v Netherlands, Bristol
