Pakistan Women’s Squads Announced for South Africa Tour Beginning February 10
The Pakistan Cricket Board has officially announced the ODI and T20I squads for the Pakistan Women’s team’s upcoming tour of South Africa, scheduled to begin on February 10 in Potchefstroom. The tour marks an important phase in Pakistan’s preparations for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to take place in June.
According to the announcement, Fatima Sana will continue to lead the side in both formats, reflecting the board’s confidence in her leadership as the team builds toward a major global event. The tour will feature three T20 Internationals followed by three One Day Internationals, offering Pakistan valuable match exposure against strong opposition in varied conditions.
A notable feature of the squad selection is the inclusion of two uncapped players, Saira Jabeen and Humna Bilal, who have earned their maiden call-ups to the T20I side. Their selection highlights the PCB’s focus on expanding the talent pool and giving emerging players an opportunity at the international level.
Several experienced players return to the ODI squad after missing out on previous selections. Ayesha Zafar, Gull Feroza, Tasmia Rubab and wicketkeeper-batter Najiha Alvi have been recalled for the 50-over format, adding depth and balance to the lineup. Their return is expected to strengthen Pakistan’s batting and bowling combinations.
A core group of players, including Aliya Riaz, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadia Iqbal and Sidra Amin, have been named in both squads, providing continuity across formats. Meanwhile, some players will feature in only one format, allowing the management to tailor combinations according to format-specific demands.
The team will undergo a pre-series training camp from February 1 to 6 at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre in Karachi. The camp is designed to help players adapt physically and tactically before traveling, with a focus on fitness, skill refinement and team cohesion.
During the South Africa tour, mentor Wahab Riaz will be supported by an experienced coaching staff, including batting coach Imran Farhat, fast bowling coach Umaid Asif, spin bowling coach Abdur Rehman and fielding coach Abdul Majeed. Officials believe this support structure will play a key role in preparing the side for challenging conditions.
The T20I matches will be played in Potchefstroom, Benoni and Kimberley between February 10 and 16, all scheduled as day-night fixtures. Pakistan will then play a 50-over warm-up match before the ODI series, which will take place in Bloemfontein, Centurion and Durban from February 22 to March 1.
This tour marks Pakistan Women’s return to South Africa for a bilateral series after January 2021. The experience gained during this tour is expected to be crucial as the team sharpens its strategy, builds combinations and assesses player readiness ahead of the World Cup.
