Nida Dar To Lead The Pakistan Women's Team As Pakistan Announces Squad For The Asian Games 2023

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 15-member women’s squad for the Asian Games scheduled to be held in September 2023 in Hangzhou, China. All-rounder Nida Dar will lead the Pakistan national women’s cricket team in the multinational event.

Young Pakistani batter Ayesha Naseem has taken the decision to retire from international cricket, citing religious reasons and her desire to live according to Islamic principles. As a result, the 18-year-old has been left out of the squad for the upcoming mega tournament.

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PCB Confirms Ayesh Naseem’s Retirement

Tania Mallick, PCB’s head of women’s cricket, supported Ayesha Naseem’s decision to retire from international cricket and wished her the best of luck in her future endeavors.

“We wish the best of luck to Ayesha Naseem in her future endeavors as the PCB understands and respects her decision to quit the game for personal reasons,” Tania Mallick said.

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Nida Dar To Lead The Squad

The Asian Games will be Nida Dar’s first mega-tournament as full-time captain. Notably, Pakistan are the only team to have won a gold medal in women’s cricket at the Asian Games. The Women in Green emerged as champions in both Guangzhou in 2010 and Incheon in 2014.

Bismah Maroof stepped down from the captaincy after Pakistan’s poor performance in the T20 World Cup earlier this year. Pakistan suffered a group-stage exit from the tournament. Maroof opted out because the Asian Games 2023 “do not allow athletes to carry their children.”

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The selectors included Diana Baig, Aliya Riaz, and Nashra Sandhu, as well as youngsters Anoosha Nasir and Shawaal Zulfiqar, who impressed in U19 and Emerging Women’s tournaments. Veteran player Diana Baig made a return to the team after recovering from a finger injury.

The Pakistan women’s team will play a home series against South Africa in Karachi from September 1 to September 14 before the Asian Games. The Nida Dar-led team is directly qualified for the quarterfinals of the Asian Games as per the ICC T20 rankings and tournament rules.

Pakistan Women’s Squad For Asian Games

Nida Dar (capt), Aliya Riaz, Anosha Nasir, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali, Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sandhu, Nataliya Pervaiz, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Ameen, Syeda Aroob Shah, Umm-e-Hani