Experienced fast bowler Diana Baig made a comeback as Pakistan on Wednesday unveiled its women cricket teams for next month’s Australia series and ICC T20 World Cup in February, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Diana Baig missed out on Pakistan's most recent set of white-ball matches against Ireland due to a shoulder injury, but the 27-year-old will return for the crucial upcoming fixtures.
Pakistan take on Australia in six white-ball games (three T20I and three ODIs as part of the ICC Women's Championship), before embarking on the T20 showcase during February in South Africa.
Bismah Maroof will once again captain Pakistan during all of those matches, while in-form batter Sidra Ameen is named in both 15-player squads fresh from being voted as the ICC Women's Player of the Month for November.
Chief selector Asmavia Iqbal believes expectations have been raised for the ever-improving Pakistan side and she expects the players chosen to perform with aplomb. "I wish luck to the players who have been selected for both Australia series and ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. I am hopeful the side will continue to perform in the same manner they have performed recently in the ACC Women’s Asia Cup and Ireland series,” she said.
"The ODI series against Australia is very crucial, the expectations are high as we have won five of the six ICC Championship matches and our aim is to qualify directly for the 50-over World Cup.
"We have relied more on the senior players in the formation of the squad for the World Cup and we expect them to use their experience on the field and get positive results for the team.
"The return of Diana Baig, Sadia Iqbal and Tuba Hassan will give a boost to the side and will strengthen our bowling attack which has the capability to do well. Sidra Nawaz has been added as our second wicket-keeper in the squad to give Muneeba Ali some space to express herself more with the bat, and gives an added option to the captain to utilise the services of a second wicket-keeper on the long tour."
Pakistan are drawn in Group 2 alongside England, India, Ireland and West Indies at the Women's T20 World Cup, with their first match coming against arch-rivals India in Cape Town on February 12.
Pakistan ODI squad for Australia: Bismah Maroof (c), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Naseem, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Ghulam Fatima, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nashra Sandhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin and Sidra Nawaz (wk)
Traveling Reserves: Aimen Anwar, Javeria Khan and Tuba Hassan
Pakistan T20I squad for Australia and ICC Women’s T20 World Cup: Bismah Maroof (c), Aimen Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Naseem, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Javeria Khan, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nashra Sandhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wk) and Tuba Hassan
Travelling Reserves: Ghulam Fatima, Kainat Imtiaz and Sadaf Shamas
Australia series schedule:
16 January – First ODI, Brisbane
18 January – Second ODI, Brisbane
21 January – Third ODI, North Sydney
24 January – First T20I, North Sydney
26 January – Second T20I, Hobart
29 January – Third T20I, Canberra
Pakistan Women’s T20 World Cup fixtures:
12 February v India, Cape Town
15 February v Ireland, Cape Town
19 February v West Indies, Paarl
21 February v England, Cape Town