Pakistan U19 women's squad announced for home T20 series against South Africa

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday announced a 17-member squad for its U19 Women's team's five-match home T20 series against South Africa, scheduled to be played in Karachi from July 14 to 24.

Middle-order batter Fizza Fiaz, who registered a match-winning half-century in the fourth T20 of the five-match away series against Bangladesh in December last year, will lead Pakistan in the upcoming series, replacing Eman Naseer, who failed to make the cut.

According to the PCB, the Women's National Selection Committee made six changes to the Pakistan squad that toured Bangladesh and won the five-match series 3-2, with Alzoha Hammad, Barirah Saif, Hadia Mina, Mah Noor, Maham Nazakat and Zainab Khanum earning call-ups.

Meanwhile, 11 of the 17 squad members for the Bangladesh series – skipper Fizza, Aqsa Habib, Areesha Ansari, Komal Khan, Mahnoor Zeb, Memoona Khalid, Raahima Syed, Ravail Farhan, Rozina Akram, Shahar Bano and Zoofishan Ayyaz – all managed to retain their spots in the contingent for the upcoming home assignment.

For the unversed, South Africa U19 women's team's tour of Pakistan will be their first-ever and the Proteas are scheduled to reach the Metropolitan city on July 10, three days before the series opener, which is scheduled to be played at the National Bank Stadium on July 14.

Meanwhile, the upcoming series will serve as a vital opportunity for the national team to prepare for the ACC Women's U19 T20 Asia Cup, scheduled to take place later this year in Pakistan and the ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup, set to take place early next year.

Pakistan U19 Women's squad:

Fizza Fiaz (c), Alzoha Hammad, Aqsa Habib, Areesha Ansari, Barirah Saif, Hadia Mina, Komal Khan, Mah Noor, Maham Nazakat, Mahnoor Zeb, Memoona Khalid, Raahima Syed, Ravail Farhan, Rozina Akram, Shahar Bano, Zainab Khanum and Zoofishan Ayyaz.

South Africa U19 women's tour of Pakistan itinerary

10 July – South Africa team arrival in Karachi

11-13 July – Pakistan and South Africa teams' training sessions at National Bank Stadium

14 July – First T20
17 July – Second T20
19 July – Third T20
22 July – Fourth T20
24 July – Fifth T20