Lahore, 27 October (H.S.):

Wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali will captain Pakistan at the ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy, scheduled to be held in Ajman, the United Arab Emirates, in November. She has been handed the responsibility in the absence of regular captain Fatima Sana, who will miss the tournament due to her commitment to play for the Perth Scorchers in the Women’s Big Bash League.

This will be the second time this year that Muneeba has stepped in to lead Pakistan in place of Fatima. She previously captained the team during the T20 International series on Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka in July, when Fatima was representing Birmingham Phoenix in England’s The Hundred competition.

Muneeba, who missed the Asian Games due to personal reasons, will return to action at the tournament.

Batter Ayesha Zafar has been appointed vice-captain. All-rounder Aliya Riaz and fast bowler Huma Bilal, both of whom featured in Pakistan’s Asian Games squad, have been left out of the team. Apart from Fatima’s absence, the 14-member squad largely retains the composition of the side that participated in the Women’s Asia Cup before the Asian Games. Waheeda Akhtar and Sadaf Shamas, who were part of the Asia Cup squad but did not feature in the Asian Games team, have also been included.

Pakistan’s squad will assemble in Lahore on November 6, followed by a three-day training camp from November 7 to 9. The team will then depart for the United Arab Emirates. The 10-team tournament is scheduled to begin on November 12.

Pakistan squad for the 2026 Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy: Muneeba Ali (captain), Ayesha Zafar (vice-captain), Eman Naseer, Aiman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Momina Riasat, Nashra Sandhu, Sadaf Shamas, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Tasmiya Rubab, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda Akhtar.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar