Pakistan Women are set to face South Africa in a three-match ODI series, beginning on Tuesday (today), September 16.
South Africa women’s cricket team has reached on their third tour of Pakistan in three years. Their recent two aimed as part of preparations for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 and ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025.
Gaddafi Stadium will stage matches on 16, 19 and 22 September. Fatima Sana will captain Pakistan’s 15-member squad. Laura Wolvaardt will lead the visiting side. The squad features one uncapped player, Eyman Fatima, who made her T20I debut against Ireland in Dublin in August.
ICC Women Cricket World Cup:
The forthcoming series provides both sides with an opportunity to finalise preparations for the eight-team ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, set to take place from September 30 to November 2 in India and Sri Lanka. Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka.
In head-to-head, in 28 ODI matches, South Africa had an upper hand against Pakistan, but the last time both sides met, Pakistan had defeated South Africa in the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25 series fixture in Karachi on 14 September 2023.
For Pakistan, in the current squad, in the batting department, Aliya Riaz has featured in 11 ODIs against South Africa, scoring 351 runs, which included three half-centuries. In the bowling unit, left-arm spinner Nashra Sundhu has played 12 matches, claiming 16 wickets at an economy rate of 3.91.
Fatima Sana:
“A series like this is very beneficial for the team ahead of the World Cup. It gives the players a good opportunity to put into practice all the preparation they have done in recent times.
“Everyone knows Pakistan rely on their bowling attack, so this time our focus will be on getting more support from the batting unit as well. We worked a lot on batting during the camp.”
Laura Wolvaardt:
Pakistan are a good side with some quality batters and players who play spin very well. I am expecting a strong contest in the series.”
Pakistan v South Africa women series (all matches at GSL; Start time 3.30 pm PKT)
16 September – First ODI
19 September – Second ODI
22 September – Third ODI
