KARACHI: Pakistan women’s cricket team will take on Zimbabwe women’s cricket team in a three-match T20I series at the National Bank Stadium on Tuesday before they embark on their European tour, where they will play in a tri-nation T20I series in Dublin and then the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England and Wales.

The matches in Karachi will be played on 12, 14 and 15 May, while they will take on West Indies on 29 May and 4 June, and Ireland on 31 May and 3 June in Ireland. Their opening match in the T20 World Cup will be against India on 14 June at Edgbaston.

This will be the first time Pakistan and Zimbabwe women’s cricket teams meet in the shortest format of the game. Since making their T20I debut in 2019, Zimbabwe women have played 89 matches, but 76 have been against non-Test playing nations. They have played and lost all 10 T20Is against Ireland and three against New Zealand.

In contrast, Pakistan has played 184 T20Is since 2009, winning 72 and losing 105. Pakistan have beaten Bangladesh and Ireland 16 times each, and South Africa and Sri Lanka 12 and 11 times, respectively. Their other wins have been against West Indies (four), India (three), Malaysia, New Zealand and UAE (twice each), and England, Nepal, Netherlands and Thailand (once each).

In the T20 World Cup, Pakistan are grouped with Australia, Bangladesh, India, Netherlands and South Africa, while Zimbabwe failed to qualify for the event in England and Wales.

The two sides contested a one-sided ICC Women’s Championship series last week, which Pakistan won 3-0. Openers Sadaf Shamas and Gull Feroza dominated the series, scoring 289 and 256 runs respectively, while Fatima Sana, Tasmia Rubab and Syeda Aroob Shah picked up five wickets apiece.

Pakistan selectors have made six changes from the 15-member ODI squad, leaving out Diana Baig, Momina Riasat, Najiha Alvi, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Amin and Syeda Aroob Shah. They have been replaced by Amber Kainat, Eyman Fatima, Iram Javed, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen and Tuba Hassan.

Amber Kainat, who took 11 wickets in the recently-held National Women’s T20, and Saira Jabeen are the two uncapped players in the squad, though Saira has been selected for the second time after having previously toured South Africa but returned without playing. Saira scored 95 runs and took three wickets in that series.

Eyman Fatima and Iram Javed have been rewarded for being the third and fourth leading run-getters in the National Women’s T20 behind Muneeba Ali (344) and Fatima Sana (271) with 258 and 257 runs respectively. Tuba Hassan scored 192 runs and took 10 wickets. Sadia Iqbal missed the National T20 but had a decent T20I series against South Africa, taking five wickets in three matches.

SQUADS:

PAKISTAN WOMEN’S T20I SQUAD: Fatima Sana (captain), Amber Kainat, Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali (wicket-keeper), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Tasmia Rubab and Tuba Hassan. Diana Baig, Momina Riasat, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Amin and Syeda Aroob Shah (all reserves).

ZIMBABWE WOMEN’S SQUAD: Nomvelo Sibanda (captain), Beloved Biza, Olinder Chare, Kudzai Chigora, Melinda Kachingwe, Lindokuhle Mabhera, Precious Marange, Michelle Mavunga, Natasha Mtomba, Christina Mutasa, Vimbai Mutungwindu, Kelis Ndhlovu, Kelly Ndiraya, Runyararo Pasipanodya, Adel Zimunu

Schedule of T20Is (all matches at National Bank Stadium, Karachi):

12 May – 1st T20I (7:30pm)

14 May – 2nd T20I (7:30pm)

15 May – 3rd T20I (7:30pm)