The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officially announced its 14-member squad on Tuesday, October 27, for the upcoming ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy 2026. Experienced wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali has been named captain to lead the national side during the tournament, which is scheduled to take place in Ajman, United Arab Emirates, from November 12 to 25. The high-stakes international competition will feature ten teams battling across 30 matches, with the Green Shirts looking to make a decisive mark on the global stage following recent strategic roster adjustments across Pakistan’s broader cricketing landscape, including the recent replacement of Saim Ayub with Sahibzada Farhan in the men's ODI squad.
Muneeba Ali steps into the leadership role in the absence of regular national captain Fatima Sana, who is currently unavailable due to her commitments playing her maiden season in Australia's prestigious Women's Big Bash League (WBBL). To support the newly appointed skipper, Ayesha Zafar has been designated as the vice-captain for the tournament. Muneeba brings notable leadership experience to the position, having previously captained Pakistan in four T20I fixtures and one ODI. Continuity remains a strong theme for the squad, as 12 players have retained their places from the previous roster, while Sadaf Shamas and Waheeda Akhtar have earned notable recalls to bolster the team's depth.
The announced 14-member traveling party combines established talent with emerging domestic standouts, featuring a robust batting lineup composed of Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Sadaf Shamas, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, and Gull Feroza. Feroza secured her spot after being crowned the best wicketkeeper-batter in Pakistan's recently concluded National Women's T20 Tournament. Meanwhile, the bowling unit will heavily rely on a formidable spin attack led by seasoned left-arm spinner Nashra Sundhu, alongside Momina Riasat, Tuba Hassan, and Umm-e-Hani. The pace department will be spearheaded by the fast-bowling duo of Tasmia Rubab and Waheeda Akhtar.
Complementing the players on the field is a newly structured high-performance support staff. The PCB has appointed Wahab Riaz as the team mentor and Ayesha Ashar as the team manager. The coaching staff comprises Abdur Rehman overseeing spin bowling, Umaid Asif managing fast bowling, Abdul Majeed directing fielding, and Imran Farhat serving as batting coach. This announcement arrives concurrently with administrative friction back home, where the PCB's reported $25,000 NOC fee demand has cast uncertainty over the participation of Pakistani players in the upcoming Nepal Premier League.
In the tournament structure, Pakistan has been drawn into Group B alongside Bangladesh, defending champions Thailand, the Netherlands, and Zimbabwe. Group A features Sri Lanka, Ireland, Scotland, Papua New Guinea, and the host nation, the United Arab Emirates. Following the single-league round-robin stage, the top three teams from each group will advance to the Super Six stage, where sides will contest three additional matches. The top two performers from the Super Six phase will ultimately collide in the championship final on Wednesday, November 25. Ahead of their departure, the Pakistan squad is set to assemble in Lahore on November 6 to participate in a rigorous pre-tournament training camp running from November 7 to 9 before flying to the UAE.
Source: News • Read Original Reporting
