Lahore, August 21, 2026: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially announced its 15-member squad for the Women’s Asia Cup 2026, with all-rounder Fatima Sana returning to lead the side. The squad was named on Sunday, August 16, 2026, alongside a separate squad for the Asian Games 2026 in Japan with Fatima Sana set to captain both teams.
The tournament itself, officially the DP World Women’s Asia Cup 2026, runs from August 28 to September 13 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, and this year’s edition carries extra weight given the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan fixture on September 5.
Why Fatima Sana’s Return Matters
Fatima Sana missed Pakistan’s recent T20I series against Sri Lanka after prioritising her commitments with Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred, becoming the first Pakistani woman to play in the English tournament. In her absence, wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali Siddiqui took over the captaincy but Pakistan ended up losing that series 2-1. With Fatima now back at the helm for the Asia Cup, the team will be hoping her return brings more stability at the top.
Her comeback is also being seen as a chance to reset after a rough outing at the recent T20 World Cup, where Pakistan managed just one win from five group matches, finishing fifth in Group 1 with only two points. That campaign included defeats to India, South Africa and Bangladesh, followed by a heavy 113-run loss to Australia, before Pakistan closed things out with a 37-run win over the Netherlands.
Full Pakistan Squad for the Women’s Asia Cup 2026
The 15-member squad named on August 16 is:
Fatima Sana (captain), Ayesha Zafar, Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Momina Riasat, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wicketkeeper), Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sundhu, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani, and Waheeda Akhtar.
Reserves: Tasmia Rubab, Humna Bilal, Maham Anees, Sadaf Shamas.
Notably, left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal and batter Gull Feroza both left out of the recent Sri Lanka T20I leg have been brought back into the fold for this tournament.
Pakistan’s Group and Full Schedule
Pakistan have been drawn in Group A alongside arch-rivals India, Thailand, and Hong Kong, China. Group B consists of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates.
Pakistan’s group-stage fixtures are as follows:
- September 1 — Pakistan vs Thailand
- September 5 — Pakistan vs India
- September 7 — Pakistan vs Hong Kong, China
All matches are scheduled to begin at 7:30pm Pakistan Standard Time, with the tournament running as an eight-team, straight T20 format. The semi-finals are set for September 10 and 11, with the final scheduled for September 13, 2026.
Preparation Camp Already Underway
Ahead of the tournament, the Pakistan women’s team has been attending a training camp at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, running from August 16 to 25, before the squad departs for Dubai.
What’s at Stake
Beyond the obvious rivalry factor of facing India, this tournament represents an important opportunity for Pakistan to rebuild momentum following a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign. A strong showing particularly a positive result against India on September 5 would go a long way toward restoring confidence heading into the Asian Games, where Pakistan will also compete under Fatima Sana’s captaincy starting September 17 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
