Pakistan Women A Asia Cup campaign will begin on Friday when the national side faces Nepal in their first Group A match in Bangkok, Thailand. The opening game will be played at the TerdThai Cricket Ground, with the first ball scheduled for 7:30am Pakistan Standard Time.
The Pakistan Women A Asia Cup tournament brings together emerging teams from across Asia. Pakistan will play two more group matches after the opener. They will meet India ‘A’ on 15 February and later take on the UAE on 17 February. Both matches will be held at the same venue and will start at 12pm.
Meanwhile, Group B includes Bangladesh ‘A’, Sri Lanka ‘A’, Malaysia and Thailand. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals on 20 February. The tournament final is set for 22 February.
Right-handed batter Hafsa Khalid will lead Pakistan in the competition. She was appointed captain after Umm-e-Hani earned a call-up to the national T20I squad. As a result, Omaima Sohail was added to the touring lineup.
Speaking ahead of the event, Hafsa said she is honoured to captain the side and eager to guide the team on an international stage. She added that the tournament offers a strong chance for players to showcase their skills and compete at a high level.
Furthermore, the captain expressed confidence in the squad’s balance. According to her, the players gained momentum during their preparation camp in Karachi and felt encouraged after their first training session at the venue.
The squad features several experienced players, including Shawaal Zulfiqar, Omaima Sohail and Waheeda Akhtar. In addition, Pakistan U19 cricketers Komal Khan and Eman Naseer are part of the lineup, strengthening the team’s depth.
Before departing for Thailand earlier this week, the probable players attended a two-week training camp at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre in Karachi. Head coach Mohammad Masroor supervised the preparations to ensure the team entered the tournament ready.
Pakistan’s 15-member squad covers all departments, with specialist batters, wicketkeepers, all-rounders, spinners and pacers included. Team officials believe this combination will help them compete strongly during the group stage and push for a place in the knockout rounds.
As the Pakistan Women A Asia Cup gets underway, the team will aim for a positive start against Nepal and build early momentum in the competition.
