Fatima Sana to lead Pakistan in Ireland tri-series, Women’s T20 World Cup

KARACHI: Fatima Sana will lead Pakistan’s women’s team in a tri-series in Ireland and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England and Wales, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Saturday.

The Women’s National Selection Committee named a 15-member squad for both tournaments.

Pakistan will take part in a tri-series in Ireland featuring hosts Ireland and West Indies. The series will be played in Dublin from May 28 to June 4, with Pakistan scheduled to play four matches.

The tournament will serve as preparation for the 12-team ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to run from June 12 to July 5.

Among the 15 players, Eyman Fatima, Natalia Pervaiz, Rameen Shamim, Saira Jabeen and Tasmia Rubab will feature in an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup for the first time.

Fatima Sana, 24, will be appearing in her third ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and will lead the side for a second successive edition, having also captained Pakistan at the 2024 tournament in the United Arab Emirates.

Pakistan recently completed a 3-0 clean sweep against Zimbabwe in a T20I series in Karachi, which the PCB said helped players prepare for upcoming assignments.

Ahead of the World Cup, Pakistan will play two warm-up matches against Sri Lanka on June 6 and Scotland on June 9 in Derby.

Pakistan will begin its World Cup campaign against arch-rivals India on June 14 at Edgbaston in Birmingham. They will face South Africa on June 17 at the same venue.

Pakistan will then travel to Southampton to play Bangladesh on June 20, followed by Australia on June 23 at Headingley in Leeds. Their final group match will be against the Netherlands on June 27 in Bristol.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, scheduled for June 30 and July 2. The final will be played at Lord’s on July 5.

Squad (15)

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, Tuba Hassan

Reserves

Amber Kainat, Momina Riasat, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Umm-e-Hani

Support staff

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 — tri-series only), Raza Kitchlew (media manager — World Cup), Waleed Ahmed (analyst), Moeen (strength and conditioning coach), Alveena Awan (team doctor), Tehreem Sumbal (physiotherapist), Kiran Shahzadi (masseuse)

Fixtures (Group stage)

June 14 v India, Birmingham

June 17 v South Africa, Birmingham

June 20 v Bangladesh, Southampton

June 23 v Australia, Leeds

June 27 v Netherlands, Bristol