Pakistan Women have taken a decisive step towards their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 preparations by unveiling their ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming tour of South Africa, a series that will play a crucial role in refining combinations and assessing depth ahead of the global tournament in England and Wales.
The national side returns to international action following a challenging Women’s World Cup 2025 campaign, with the selectors opting for a blend of experience and fresh faces across formats. Fatima Sana has been retained as captain for both ODIs and T20Is, continuing the leadership transition as Pakistan look to rebuild momentum and structure in the lead-up to the marquee event.
A notable highlight of the T20I squad is the inclusion of uncapped batter Saira Jabeen and right-arm pacer Humna Bilal, both earning their maiden call-ups as Pakistan widen their talent pool in the shortest format. Their selections underline the team management’s intent to explore new options and invest in long-term prospects.
The ODI squad, meanwhile, sees the return of several experienced players who missed out on last year’s Women’s ODI World Cup selection. Ayesha Zafar, Gull Feroza, Tasmia Rubab, and wicketkeeper-batter Najiha Alvi have all been recalled, adding stability and experience to the 50-over setup.
Several core players continue to feature across both formats, including Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, and Tasmia Rubab, ensuring continuity as Pakistan aim to strike the right balance between experimentation and consistency.
While Diana Baig, Najiha Alvi, Sadaf Shamas, and Syeda Aroob Shah have been named exclusively in the ODI squad, Humna Bilal, Saira Jabeen, Tuba Hassan, and Eyman Fatima will feature only in the T20I setup, reflecting format-specific planning by the selectors.
Ahead of the tour, a pre-series training camp will be conducted at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre in Karachi from February 1 to 6, allowing players to acclimatise and prepare before departing for South Africa.
The upcoming series also marks Pakistan Women’s first bilateral tour of South Africa since January 2021, although the side has featured in Cape Town and Paarl during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023. With preparations intensifying, the tour presents a valuable opportunity for Pakistan to assess their progress and sharpen their approach ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Pakistan’s Squad for South Africa Tour:
T20I – Fatima Sana (C), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza (wicket-keeper), Humna Bilal, Muneeba Ali (wicket-keeper), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Sidra Amin, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan
ODI – Fatima Sana (C), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali (wicket-keeper), Najiha Alvi (wicket-keeper), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab
Pakistan Tour of South Africa 2026, Schedule:
T20I series
- 1st T20I – 10 February, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom
- 2nd T20I – 13 February, Willowmoore Park, Benoni
- 3rd T20I – 16 February, Kimberley Oval, Kimberley
ODI series
- 1st ODI – 22 February, Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
- 2nd ODI – 25 February, SuperSport Park, Centurion
- 3rd ODI – 1 March, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban
