Fatima Sana to lead women’s side as PCB announces 15-member squad for T20 World Cup, Ireland tri-series

Fatima Sana will lead Pakistan in the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday announced a 15-member squad for the tournament, as well as a tri-series featuring Ireland and the West Indies.

According to a press release by the PCB, Pakistan will feature in a tri-series in Dublin from May 28 to June 4, where hosts Ireland and the West Indies are the other two participating teams. Pakistan is set to play four matches in the event.

“The tournament will help Pakistan and the other two sides gear up for the 12-team ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place from June 12 to July 5,” PCB said.

Among the 15 players selected by the Women’s National Selection Committee, Eyman Fatima, Natalia Pervaiz, Rameen Shamim, Saira Jabeen and Tasmia Rubab will feature in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup for the first time.

It said 24-year-old Fatima, who will feature in her third ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, would captain the side for the second successive T20 World Cup after having led the team in the previous edition held in the UAE in 2024.

Ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales, the Pakistan women’s team will play two warm-up fixtures — against Sri Lanka on June 6 and against Scotland on June 9. Both matches will take place in Derby.

“Pakistan will begin their campaign against India at Edgbaston in Birmingham on June 14, before facing South Africa at the same venue on June 17,” the PCB said, adding that the team will then travel to Southampton to face Bangladesh at the Hampshire Bowl on June 20.

Their fourth fixture will be against Australia at Headingley in Leeds on June 23, while their final group-stage match will be against the Netherlands at the Bristol County Ground in Bristol on June 27.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, scheduled for June 30 and July 2, respectively. The final will be staged at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on July 5.

15-member squad:

Fatima Sana (captain), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Pervaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Tasmia Rubab and Tuba Hassan.

Non-travelling reserves:

Amber Kainat, Momina Riasat, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah and Umm-e-Hani.

Player support personnel:

Ayesha Ashhar (manager), Wahab Riaz (mentor/head coach), Abdur Rehman (spin bowling coach), Umaid Asif (fast bowling coach), Abdul Majeed (fielding coach), Imran Farhat (batting coach), Muhammad Arslan (media manager for tri-series only), Raza Kitchlew (media manager for World Cup), Waleed Ahmed (analyst), Moeen (strength and conditioning coach), Alveena Awan (team doctor), Tehreem Sumbal (physiotherapist) and Kiran Shahzadi (masseuse).