Wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali will lead Pakistan at next month's ICC Women's Emerging Nations Trophy in Ajman, UAE. The 14-player squad, announced this week, is made up mostly of regulars, with 12 players retained from the side that won bronze at the recent Asian Games in Japan.
According to sources, regular captain Fatima Sana has been allowed to skip the event because of her commitments in Australia's Women's Big Bash League, where she will play for Perth Scorchers for the first time. Ayesha Zafar has been named vice-captain.
The batting group includes Zafar, Gull Feroza, Sadaf Shamas, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Eyman Fatima, Saira Jabeen and 19-year-old Eman Naseer. Left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu, the only Pakistani in the top 10 of the women's T20I bowling rankings, leads the attack alongside spinners Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani and Momina Riasat, with Tasmia Rubab and Waheeda Akhtar as the fast bowlers. Shamas and Akhtar return after missing the Asian Games.
The tournament, running from November 12 to 25, has grown from eight teams to 10, and this will be Pakistan's first appearance. Pakistan are in Group B with defending champions Thailand, Bangladesh, the Netherlands and Zimbabwe, and open against Bangladesh on the first day. The top three from each group reach the Super Six, followed by the semi-finals and final.
Pakistan squad: Muneeba Ali (capt, wk), Ayesha Zafar (vice-capt), Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza (wk), Momina Riasat, Nashra Sandhu, Sadaf Shamas, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani, Waheeda Akhtar.