Pakistan may blood some fresh faces during their white-ball series against Sri Lanka later this month after they named three uncapped players in their ODI and T20I squads on Wednesday.
Veteran skipper Bismah Mahroof will once again captain Pakistan during the three ODIs and three T20s to be held in Karachi, with experienced duo Diana Baig and Aliya Riaz also named in both squads along with young seamer Fatima Sana.
The most notable absentees from the squad are Javeria Khan and Nahida Khan, with the experienced duo left out after both featured during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand earlier this year.
Wicketkeeper-batter Gull Feroza appears the most likely to earn her first cap after she was named in both 15-player squads, while batter Sadaf Shamas (ODI) and leg-spinner Tuba Hassan (T20) could also come into contention for a debut.
Chief Selector Asmavia Iqbal is looking forward to seeing what the new players will be able to bring to the side.
“I want to wish the two squads the very best for the series, we have provided opportunities to Gull Feroza, Sadaf Shamas and Tuba Hassan on the basis of their future potential and skills,” she said.
“The three youngsters took part in the emerging camp last December and made an impression with their talent.
“I am pleased to see their progress and we all feel it is now the right time to give them exposure of international cricket.
“We had sent Tuba as a reserve player in the recently concluded ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup along with Ghulam Fatima, she continues to make good progress and since spin bowling has been a traditional strength of ours, I feel she can make a good contribution in our bowling strategy.
“Gul Feroza has also made good progress, she has an aggressive style of play and can provide us brisk starts in both T20Is and ODIs which are now a big requirement at the international stage.
“Sadaf besides her batting skills provides us a bowling option too with her medium pace skills.
“For the rest of the squad, we considered the players fitness, form and their performances in the preparation camp where we played a number of practice T20 and 50-over matches.
“I believe we have two formidable squads for both T20Is and ODIs, both squads have good depth and most certainly have the pedigree to beat the Sri Lankan team in what should be an exciting series.”
ODI squad:
Bismah Maroof (captain), Aiman Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Ghulam Fatima, Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin and Sidra Nawaz.
T20I squad:
Bismah Maroof (captain), Aiman Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Naseem, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal and Tuba Hassan.
Pakistan v Sri Lanka schedule:
May 24 – First T20I
May 26 – Second T20I
May 28 – Third T20I
Jun 1 – First ODI
Jun 3 – Second ODI
Jun 5 – Third ODI
ICC
