Experienced cricketer Iram Javed is set to make a remarkable return to the Pakistan women’s cricket squad as she has been included in the team for the upcoming white-ball tour of Bangladesh. Iram, who first appeared in international cricket in 2013, is making her way back into the Pakistan team after a hiatus of one year, with her last appearance being at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022.
The squad will be under the captaincy of the veteran all-rounder Nida Dar. Notably, Shawaal Zulfiqar and Syeda Aroob Shah have been excluded from the squad, both of whom were part of the team that competed against South Africa in the white-ball series last month in Karachi.
During the South Africa series, Pakistan emerged victorious in the T20I segment with a 3-0 win, while South Africa staged a comeback to claim the ODI series with a 2-1 win. Fast-bowling all-rounder Fatima Sana, who sustained an injury during the second ODI against South Africa, is still in the process of recovery.
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Saleem Jaffar, the chief selector, shared insights into the squad selection process, saying, “Our selection committee has carefully deliberated over the squad for the Bangladesh tour, aiming to strike the right balance between bat and ball, as we believe this squad is well-equipped to face the challenges in Bangladesh.”
He further added, “Young Shawaal Zulfiqar has been omitted from the squad as she requires more grooming before representing again at the international level. The members of the selection committee have recalled experienced Iram Javed in the squad. Iram’s presence will undoubtedly strengthen our batting order in Bangladesh conditions.”
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Speaking about Fatima Sana’s recovery, Jaffar mentioned, “Fatima Sana is on the road to recovery, and we are committed to giving her the time she needs to be fully prepared for the upcoming away series against New Zealand, where the selection committee feels the right-arm fast bowler will be more productive.”
Both Shawaal and Aroob are part of the 28 probables in the Pakistan women’s emerging team, currently participating in a training camp in Muridke. The emerging team is scheduled to compete in a bilateral series and a triangular tournament, which will also involve West Indies and Thailand’s emerging cricket teams later this month.
The Pakistan women’s cricket team is set to depart for Bangladesh on October 20, where they will engage in a six-match white-ball series, including three ODIs, as part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25. The schedule for the series will be announced by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) in due course.
Before heading to Bangladesh, the Pakistan team will undertake a six-day camp at the Ghani Institute for Cricket in DHA, Lahore, starting from October 14. During the camp, players will participate in practice sessions, engage in various match scenarios, and also play a 50-over practice match.
Pakistan squad: Nida Dar (captain), Aliya Riaz, Bismah Maroof, Diana Baig, Ghulam Fatima, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali (wk), Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda Akhtar
Non-travelling reserves: Amber Kainat, Omaima Sohail and Sidra Nawaz (wk)
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