NEWS
Follow UsWest Indies women team led by Stafanie Taylor will tour Pakistan for three ODIs in November 8-14 ahead of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Thursday. Batter Javeria Khan will lead Pakistan's 18-player squad in the three games set to be played at the Karachi National Stadium.
“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," PCB chairman Ramiz Raja said in an official release.
Raja also confirmed that the men's side will play three ODIs and as many T20Is in December. Cricket West Indies chief Johnny Grave in September said that the Board is determined to fulfill the tour commitments with the PCB after the men's side played toured the Caribbean in July-August.
“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,” Raja added.
Since last month, the PCB has been in talks with various member nations to host a series in their country following the controversial withdrawals of New Zealand and England.
In August, New Zealand men's team pulled out of the tour just hours before the limited-overs series kicked off in Rawalpindi citing security reasons. Two weeks later, the England and Wales Cricket Board cancelled their men's and women's tours in October saying the players were hesitant to tour the country.
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. The Windies squad 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.
Pakistan Squad 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)