Wicketkeeper batter Muneeba Ali has only ever captained the side in two games, one each in T20I and ODI. She has a career spanning approximately ten years, during which she has played north of 150 internationals across formats.
But the opportunity to lead the side in a series has only fallen in her lap now. With the regular captain Fatima Sana in England for her maiden Hundred stint, Muneeba was named to lead the side.
Can Pakistan make a comeback?
Her task, however, would not be easy. Sri Lanka have already bagged the ODI leg of the tour 2-1, and with Pakistan fresh off a chastening T20 World Cup campaign, spirits would hardly be high. Muneeba, however, is positive that her team can finish the series on a high.
“We look forward to competing hard in the T20I series here in Dambulla, and the aim is to finish the tour on a high with a series win,” Muneeba said on the eve of the first t20I in Dambulla.
“It is an honour for me to lead Pakistan at any given opportunity, and I’ll do my best to contribute towards the development of youngsters and produce positive results for the team,” Muneeba said in a Pakistan Cricket Board statement on the eve of the series opener.
Pakistan’s young lot
Pakistan made several changes to the squad that played in the Women’s T20 World Cup recently, dropping Aliya Riaz, Iram Javed, and Diana Baig.
In their stead, they have called up eight players, including three uncapped ones, namely Momina Riasat, Maham Anees, and Eman Naseer.
Additionally, Humna Bilal, who made her debut against South Africa in February this year, has also been called back along with Najiha Alvi, Shawaal Zulfiqar and Waheeda Akhtar. Najiha has been out of the T20 side since 2024, while Shawaal and Waheeda last played the shortest format in August last year.
Muneeba is upbeat at the prospect of trying the new players in the team, though she did not downplay the sort of conditions Sri Lanka will throw at them.
“We have a number of young and up-and-coming players in the T20I squad, and it will be exciting to see them ply their trade on the top level against some of the best players. We are aware of Sri Lanka’s capability to bounce back from any situation, and we will look to take the field with the best preparation and planning possible.”
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