Pakistan announces white-ball squad for South Africa tour with Fatima Sana as captain

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On January 14, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officially confirmed that Fatima Sana will continue to lead the national women’s team for their upcoming dual-format tour of South Africa. The tour, which marks Pakistan’s first bilateral return to the country in five years, serves as a vital rebuilding phase following their exit from the recent ODI World Cup.

The PCB has opted for a blend of stability and fresh talent, naming several mainstays across both squads while introducing uncapped prospects to the T20I setup. With the T20Is scheduled to begin on February 10 in Potchefstroom, the series is expected to be a grueling test of endurance, featuring three day-night T20Is and three ODIs across six different venues. This tour is particularly significant as Pakistan looks to avenge their rain-affected World Cup loss against the Proteas in Colombo last October.

The most notable selection highlights from the announcement include maiden call-ups for uncapped batter Saira Jabeen and right-arm fast bowler Humna Bilal, both of whom have been named specifically for the T20I squad. Their inclusion reflects the selectors’ intent to inject new energy into the shortest format following a string of inconsistent results. Additionally, several players who missed out on the ODI World Cup, including opening batters Ayesha Zafar and Gull Feroza, as well as left-arm pacer Tasmia Rubab, have earned recalls to the 50-over side. While Fatima Sana leads both units, the squads are supported by a high-profile coaching panel featuring Wahab Riaz as mentor and Imran Farhat as batting coach, underscoring the PCB’s investment in providing seasoned guidance to the squad’s core.

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The tour is divided into two distinct segments, starting with a fast-paced T20I series before shifting to the longer format in late February. All T20I matches will be played under lights, while the ODI series will transition into a mix of day and day-night fixtures. Below is the full schedule for the Pakistan Women’s tour of South Africa 2026:

The selectors have named a core group of 10 players who will feature in both squads, ensuring continuity across formats, while specialist players like Diana Baig (ODI only) and Tuba Hassan (T20I only) provide specific tactical depth.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.