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Pakistan Women’s ‘A’ will kick off their Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 journey against Nepal in their opening Group A clash at the TerdThai Cricket Ground, Bangkok. The match is scheduled to start at 7:30am PKT, marking the beginning of a tightly packed group stage.
Pakistan will next face India ‘A’ on 15 February and UAE on 17 February, with both fixtures beginning at 12pm PKT at the same venue.
Tournament structure
Group A features Pakistan Women’s ‘A’, Nepal, India ‘A’, and UAE, while Group B includes Bangladesh ‘A’, Sri Lanka ‘A’, Malaysia, and Thailand. The top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals on 20 February, with the final scheduled for 22 February.
Leadership & preparation
Right-hand batter Hafsa Khalid has been named captain after Umm-e-Hani earned a call-up to Pakistan’s T20I squad. Omaima Sohail came in as Hani’s replacement.
The squad blends experience with youth, featuring capped players Shawaal Zulfiqar, Omaima Sohail, and Waheeda Akhtar, alongside emerging U19 talents Komal Khan and Eman Naseer.
Before departure, the team completed a two-week high-performance training camp in Karachi under head coach Mohammad Masroor, helping build confidence ahead of the regional competition.
Hafsa Khalid said leading the side is an honour and expressed confidence in the squad’s balance and preparation, adding that the players are eager to showcase their skills on the international stage.
Pakistan Women’s ‘A’ squad
Batters:
Hafsa Khalid (captain), Eman Naseer, Gull Rukh, Huraina Sajjad, Shawaal Zulfiqar
Wicketkeepers:
Yusra Amir, Komal Khan
All-rounders:
Noreen Yaqoob, Omaima Sohail
Spinners:
Anosha Nasir, Momina Riasat
Pacers:
Lubna Behram, Neha Sharmin Nadeem, Syeda Masooma Jafri, Waheeda Akhtar
Non-travelling reserves:
Zunash Abdul Sattar, Maham Anees, Amber Kainat, Ayesha Bilal
Pakistan will be aiming to start strong against Nepal and carry momentum into their high-profile group fixtures as they chase a place in the knockouts. If you want, I can also break down their likely playing XI, strengths, or match strategy.
