Pakistan team suffers injury blow ahead of Asia Cup, Naziha ruled out

Pakistan women's cricket team has been hit by an injury just before the start of the Asia Cup. Wicketkeeper-batter Naziha Alvi has been ruled out of the tournament due to a knee injury. Batter Sadaf Shams has been named in the main squad as her replacement.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced this in a statement on Monday. Naziha's tests revealed an injury to the back of her left knee. It may take her about four weeks to fully recover.

Sadaf has been included in the main squad from the reserve list due to Naziha's omission. The 27-year-old top-order batsman has played 12 matches so far since her T20 debut in 2023. However, she has not played in this edition since October 2024.

Sadaf, however, is in great form in ODIs. She has scored a century and four fifties in 9 ODIs this year. 

The Women's Asia Cup will begin in Dubai on August 28. The final of the T20 edition of the tournament will be held on September 13.

Pakistan is in Group A, where they will face India, Thailand and Hong Kong. Fatima Sana's team will start the tournament with a match against Thailand on September 1. They will then face India on September 5 and Hong Kong on September 7.

Pakistan's squad for the Asia Cup

Fatima Sana (captain), Ayesha Zafar, Iman Nasir, Aiman ​​Fatima, Gul Feroza, Momina Riasat, Muniba Ali (wicketkeeper), Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Zabin, Shawal Zulfiqar, Tuba Hasan, Umme Hani, Waheeda Akhtar, Sadaf Shams.

Reserves: Tasmia Rubab, Humna Bilal, Maham Anis.