Lahore, Aug 24 (IANS) Wicketkeeper-batter Najiha Alvi has been ruled out of Pakistan’s squad for the upcoming ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup due to a knee injury, with right-handed batter Sadaf Shamas named as her replacement.
According to a statement from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday, the decision was taken after medical assessments confirmed a joint issue, prompting the selection committee to draft in Sadaf for the marquee continental event.
“Najiha reported pain in her posterior left knee, while later the scans revealed a possible sprain in it. Following an assessment by the PCB’s medical team, Najiha is set to begin her rehabilitation programme immediately which is expected to last up to four weeks.
“The national women’s selection committee added Sadaf to the Asia Cup squad. She has played 12 WT20Is so far after making her debut in January 2023,” the PCB said in its statement.
The tournament is scheduled to take place in Dubai, UAE, from August 28 to September 13, with Pakistan placed in a competitive Group A alongside traditional rivals, seven-time winners India, Thailand, and Hong Kong.
Pakistan will begin their 2026 Women’s Asia Cup campaign against Thailand on September 1 before facing India in a marquee clash on September 5 and Hong Kong-China on September 7. The semi-finals are scheduled to be held on September 10 and 11, with the final set to be played on September 13.
Fatima Sana will return as Pakistan’s captain for the competition after missing the T20I series against Sri Lanka due to her participation in The Hundred, where she turned out for Birmingham Phoenix.
Pakistan squad for women’s Asia Cup: Fatima Sana (captain), Ayesha Zafar, Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Momina Riasat, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wk), Sadaf Shamas, Nashra Sundhu, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani, and Waheeda Akhtar
–IANS
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