The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced a 14-member squad for the ICC Women’s Emerging Nations Trophy 2026, naming Muneeba Ali as captain and Ayesha Zafar as vice-captain for the tournament in Ajman in the United Arab Emirates, which runs from November 12 to 25. Regular captain Fatima Sana will miss the tournament because she is heading to Australia for her first Women’s Big Bash League season, so the leadership passes to Muneeba for a campaign that will test the depth of Pakistan’s emerging women’s setup. Twelve of the squad were part of the side that won the bronze medal at the Asian Games in Japan, while Sadaf Shamas and Waheeda Akhtar have been recalled to complete the group.
The squad is built around a batting core of Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Sadaf Shamas, Saira Jabeen and Shawaal Zulfiqar, with Gull Feroza, named the best wicketkeeper-batter in the recently concluded National Women’s T20 Tournament, also included. Left-arm spinner Nashra Sundhu will lead the bowling attack alongside fellow spinners Momina Riasat, Tuba Hassan and Umm-e-Hani, while Tasmia Rubab and Waheeda Akhtar provide the frontline pace options, giving the side a balanced attack for the conditions in the UAE. The support staff will be led by mentor Wahab Riaz, with Ayesha Ashar as team manager, Abdur Rehman as spin bowling coach, Umaid Asif as fast bowling coach, Abdul Majeed as fielding coach, Imran Farhat as batting coach, Waleed Ahmed as performance analyst, Moeen as strength and conditioning coach and Dur Samand as physiotherapist.
Pakistan have been drawn in Group B alongside Bangladesh, Thailand, the Netherlands and Zimbabwe, while Group A features Sri Lanka, Ireland, Scotland, Papua New Guinea and the host UAE. The 30-match tournament begins with a single round-robin group stage, after which the top three teams from each group advance to the Super Six stage, where each side plays three matches, and the top two teams then contest the final on Wednesday, November 25. The players will assemble in Lahore on November 6 and attend a three-day training camp from November 7 to 9 before departing for the UAE.
For a side missing its regular captain, the tournament is both a challenge and an opportunity. A strong showing in Ajman would underline the progress of Pakistan’s women’s pathway beyond its first-choice eleven, and for players like Muneeba Ali and the recalled Sadaf Shamas and Waheeda Akhtar, it is a chance to stake a claim for a permanent place. With a settled core from the Asian Games bronze-medal side and a clear route through the groups to the final, Pakistan will travel with genuine reason to believe they can go deep into the competition.
