KARACHI: The West Indies (WI) women team will visit Pakistan for three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in November.
As per details, the matches will be hosted at Karachi’s iconic National Stadium on November 8, 11 and 14, following which both sides will travel to Zimbabwe for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier to be held from November 21 to December 5.
According to a PCB information on Sunday, as part of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) efforts to increase the reach and viewership of the women’s sport, the three ODIs – which will start at 1000 – will be live-streamed through PCB’s YouTube channel around the world.
This will be Pakistan women’s third bilateral series in 2021 after they toured South Africa in January-February and West Indies in June-July. Stafaine Taylor’s West Indies will arrive in Karachi on 1 November for what is a reciprocal tour.
The top three of the 10 teams will qualify for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022, which will be played in New Zealand.
Commenting on the development, PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja said: “We are delighted to announce the West Indies women’s tour to Pakistan in November. This will be a great series for the promotion, publicity and growth of women’s cricket in Pakistan, besides also providing both sides excellent opportunity to prepare for the World Cup qualifier.”
“West Indies women’s tour will be followed by their men’s side who will visit Pakistan for three ODIs and three T20Is in December. So, the Pakistan cricket fans can brace for some exciting and entertaining cricket in women’s and men’s cricket later this year.”
Meanwhile, the national women’s selection committee – which includes Urooj Mumtaz and Asmavia Iqbal, has announced an 18-strong squad for the upcoming ODIs and the World Cup Qualifier.
Batter Javeria Khan will lead the contingent, which has been devised after considering the performances on the last two tours and the recent Pakistan Cup Women’s One-Day.
Pakistan Women for West Indies ODIs and World Cup Qualifier: Javeria Khan (captain), Aiman Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Iram Javed, Kainat Imtiaz, Maham Tariq, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sundhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin and Sidra Nawaz (wicketkeeper)
The support staff includes Fizza Abid as team manager, David Hemp as head coach, Arshad Khan as assistant coach, Kamran Hussain as assistant coach, Saboor Ahmad as strength and condition coach, Zubair Ahmad as analyst), Dr Riffat Asghar Gill as head physiotherapist and Rabia Siddiq as physiotherapist.
The national women’s team’s camp for the series will begin from October 23 and will run till November 5 at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre, Karachi.
At the conclusion of the camp, the team will shift to the team hotel.
