Pakistan Women’s Team Faces Challenges Ahead of T20 World Cup
The Pakistan Women’s cricket team encountered a tough phase in their preparations for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. Their recent outing in the Ireland tri-series saw them miss out on a place in the finals, particularly highlighted by a rain-interrupted match against West Indies, led by Hayley Matthews, which took place in Dublin on June 3.
The series kicked off with a 25-run loss to the West Indies, followed by a disappointing seven-wicket defeat to Ireland, who successfully chased down 177 runs in just 19.1 overs. Pakistan will aim to conclude the series on a high note when they meet Ireland again on June 4.
In their latest match on Wednesday, Pakistan posted a competitive score of 111 for 7 in 16.5 overs before rain disrupted play. The innings got off to a shaky start as Gull Feroza scored 10 with two boundaries but was out early. Ayesha Zafar contributed 17 runs off 15 balls, while Rameen Shamim added 17 runs from 16 deliveries, helping the team recover after early wickets.
Aliya Riaz played a crucial role in stabilizing the middle order with a steady 24 runs. Captain Fatima Sana finished unbeaten on 21, effectively managing the team’s run flow in the latter stages. However, the West Indies bowlers, particularly Chinelle Henry and Ashmini Munisar, put Pakistan under constant pressure, claiming two wickets each at critical times.
As the match was set for an exciting finish, rain forced the game to be called off, resulting in both teams sharing points and Pakistan being unable to secure a place in the finals.
Following this setback, the Pakistan Women’s team is shifting focus to refine their lineup for the upcoming T20 World Cup. They have scheduled two warm-up matches in Derby, facing Sri Lanka Women on June 6 and Scotland Women on June 9.
Their World Cup journey will kick off against arch-rivals India on June 14 at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Pakistan has been placed in Group B, where they will also compete against the Netherlands, Bangladesh, South Africa, and Australia during the group stage.
