Nida to lead Pakistan against SA

LAHORE: All-rounder Nida Dar will lead Pakistan in next month’s bilateral white-ball home series against South Africa as the women’s team chief selector Saleem Jaffar announced 15-member squads for both Twenty20 and One-day Internationals on Friday.

The two teams will play three T20s and as many ODIs — the latter being part of the ICC Women’s Championship — in Karachi from Sept 1 to 14.

Right-arm fast bowler Diana Baig returns following a six-month layoff after recovering from a finger injury and is part of both squads while 18-year-old Shawaal Zulfiqar, who has also been included in Pakistan’s squad for next month’s Asian Games, has been picked for the three T20s.

Leg-spinner Syeda Aroob Shah, who last featured for Pakistan in the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2020, has also returned for the shortest format alongside Natalia Parvaiz, who last turned out for Pakistan in 2018.

Uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Najiha Alvi is also a member of the T20 squad as is off-spinner Umm-e-Hani, who has featured in one ODI.

Umm-e-Hani is also part of the ODI squad alongside Waheeda Akhtar.

Aimen Anwar, Javeria Khan, recently-retired Ayesha Naseem, Sidra Nawaz and Tuba Hassan have been omitted from the Pakistan squad that featured in the Women’s T20 World Cup.

T20 squad: Nida Dar (captain), Aliya Riaz, Bismah Mar­oof, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali, Najiha Alvi (wicketkeeper), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah and Umm-e-Hani. Reserves: Anoosha Nasir, Omaima Sohail and Waheeda Akhtar

ODI squad: Nida Dar (captain), Aliya Riaz, Bismah Maroof, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Ghulam Fatima, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sundhu, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda Akhtar. Reserves: Najiha Alvi, Natalia Parvaiz and Tuba Hassan.