Pakistan Women recall five players for WI series

KARACHI, Pakistan (CMC):

Pakistan Women selectors have recalled five players for the eight-match white-ball series against touring West Indies Women starting Thursday.

Wicketkeeper Sidra Nawaz, a veteran of 67 one-day internationals and 56 Twenty20 Internationals (T20I), has found her way back into the ODI team, having last turned out against South Africa eight months ago.

Meanwhile, the rookie trio of Gull Feroza, Rameen Shamim and Tuba Hassan will join the experienced Ayesha Zafar in returning to the T20 team for the five-match series, to be played after the three ODIs.

Ayesha, a 29-year-old right-hander, last played for Pakistan in the T20 format three years ago while Feroza's last appearance in the shortest format was against Sri Lanka two years ago.

Rameen, a 28-year-old off-spinner, played the last of her four T20I five years ago, while Tuba, a 23-year-old leg-spinner, will play her first T20I in 15 months.

Tuba, who has 21 games under her belt and made her ODI debut last year, has been named in both squads, captained by Nida Dar.

The 32-year-old leg-spinning all-rounder Bismah Maroof, who has played more than 100 games in both formats, has been included in the squads subject to fitness.

"The selection committee, in consultation with captain Nida Dar and [the] interim head coach, has finalised 16-member squads for the ODI and T20I series," said chief selector, Saleem Jaffar.

"Five players in the squads return due to their performances in the domestic tournament and the good skills they demonstrated in the camp."

He continued: "The series against the West Indies is important for us as the ODIs are part of ICC Women's Championship 2022-25.

"We aim to secure maximum points in the series, taking advantage of our home conditions, to enhance our chances for direct qualification for next year's ICC Women's ODI World Cup.

"The series against the West Indies also presents an opportunity for the players to showcase their skills and secure berths for next month's England tour," Jaffar said.

The three ODIs run from April 18-21 followed by the T20 Internationals from April 26 to May 3.

West Indies are travelling with a 15-member squad, led by batting superstar Hayley Matthews.

SQUADS: ODI - Nida Dar (captain), Aliya Riaz, Bismah Maroof, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali, Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda Akhtar.

T20I - Nida Dar (captain), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Bismah Maroof, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali (wk), Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Tuba Hassan and Umm-e-Hani.