Fatima Sana Appointed Pakistan Women's T20 World Cup Captain

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed fast bowler Fatima Sana as the captain of the 15-member squad for the Women's T20 World Cup 2024, which will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in October. Sana takes over the captaincy from all-rounder Nida Dar.

This will be the first time that the 22-year-old Sana will lead Pakistan in T20Is and at any ICC event. She has previously captained the national team twice in ODIs, including a memorable Super Over victory against New Zealand at Hagley Oval when she stood in for the concussed Dar.

Apart from the captaincy change, the Pakistan squad remains largely unchanged from the one that toured Sri Lanka for the Women's T20 Asia Cup last month. The only alteration is the inclusion of batter Sadaf Shamas, who was also part of the Women's T20 World Cup in 2023, in place of wicketkeeper-batter Najiha Alvi.

Ten players from the previous T20 World Cup assignment in 2023 have been retained in the 15-member squad. These include Aliya Riaz, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sandhu, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Tuba Hassan, Shamas, Dar, and Fatima. Left-arm spinner Sadia's selection is subject to fitness, while uncapped left-arm seamer Tasmia Rubab has also been included in the squad.

Pakistan has also named Alvi, who was omitted from the main squad, as the traveling reserve. Rameen Shamim and Umm-e-Hani are the non-traveling reserves.

The Women's T20 World Cup will commence in the UAE on October 3. Pakistan has been placed in Group A alongside Australia, India, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. The revised schedule for the tournament has yet to be announced after it was shifted from Bangladesh last week.

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