NEWS
Follow UsPakistan finally named the replacement for pacer Diana Baig in their squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Baig got injured while bowling her first over of the team's first game in the tournament, when she pulled up a muscle in her run-up before delivering the second ball. She was helped off the field by the physio and didn’t participate in the remaining overs of that game or the two games played by Pakistan after that.
Skipper Fatima Sana played as the lone pacer of the side against India. When she wasn’t available for the Australia game due to her father’s demise, Pakistan didn’t play any specialist pacer.
Now, with just one game left in the tournament for them, they have decided to bring in a 21-year-old wicketkeeper batter from Karachi, Najiha Alvi, to the side.
She has played eight T20Is for Pakistan, having debuted in 2023 against Bangladesh in Chattogram. The last time she appeared for Pakistan in a T20I was when she featured in the five-match series against West Indies in Karachi earlier this year. However, she didn’t get enough chances and could score only 14 runs in four innings.
The Event Technical Committee of the Women’s T20 World Cup, which includes Wasim Khan (ICC General Manager), Snehal Pradhan (ICC Manager – Women’s Cricket), Salman Hanif (Emirates Cricket Board Tournament Director) and Katey Martin (independent representative), approved Najiha as a replacement for Diana in the Pakistan squad.
The replacement of a player requires the approval of the Event Technical Committee before the player can be officially added to the squad.
Pakistan play their last game of the group stages against New Zealand on October 14 (Monday).
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