Pakistan Women's Cricket Selection Committee comprising Asmavia Iqbal, Marina Iqbal and Urooj Mumtaz on Saturday announced the 15-member Pakistan women's cricket squad for next month's ICC Women's Championship and Twenty20 International series against South Africa.
Just one change has been made in the 14-member squad that defeated the West Indies girls 2-1 in the ODI series. Off-spinner Saba Nazir has been replaced by uncapped spinner Rameen Shamim, while Jaweria Rauf, whose last ODI appearance was in January 2014, has been included.
In the T20I squad, there are two changes from the last series against the West Indies. From the 14-member squad, Anam Amin and Natalia Pervaiz have been replaced by Jaweria Rauf and Kainat Imtiaz, while Rameen Shamin has also found a place in the 15-player squad. In addition, the selectors have also named four reserves, namely: Fareeha Mehmood, Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali and Saba Nazir.
Chief of Pakistan Women's Selection Panel and former captain, Urooj Mumtaz, said: "we have rewarded the girls for their outstanding achievements against the West Indies by maintaining consistency in the ODI squad, while we have made some tweaks in the T20I squad as we look forward to next year's ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2020.
We have a good bunch of cricketers who have displayed their capabilities and potentials against the West Indies and previous series. When we played South Africa in an ODI series last time, we narrowly lost 1-2, but I am hopeful we will be able to build on our success against the West Indies and be able to do one better this time on the African safari."
Urooj Mumtaz also said, "we have an excellent mix of senior and junior cricketers. I am sure under the wings of the experienced girls, the youngsters will thrive and make optimum use of the increased opportunities as these are extremely interesting times for women's cricket as far as more chances of exposure and experience exist, with enhanced performance-related incentives."
ODI squad:
Bismah Maroof (captain); Aiman Anwar; Aliya Riaz; Diana Baig; Javeria Wadood Khan; Jaweria Rauf; Kainat Imtiaz; Nahida Khan; Nashra Sundhu; Nida Dar; Rameen Shamim; Sana Mir; Sidra Amin; Sidra Nawaz (wicketkeeper) and Omaima Sohail.
T20 squad:
Bismah Maroof (captain); Aiman Anwar; Aliya Riaz; Diana Baig; Iram Javed; Javeria Wadood Khan; Jaweria Rauf; Kainat Imtiaz; Nashra Sundhu; Nida Dar; Rameen Shamim; Sana Mir; Sidra Amin; Sidra Nawaz (wicketkeeper) and Omaima Sohail.