Muneeba Ali Siddiqui to captain Pakistan women in T20Is vs Sri Lanka
Synopsis
Fatima Sana is making history as the first Pakistani women's cricketer to play The Hundred — but that means handing the T20I captaincy to Muneeba Ali Siddiqui for the Sri Lanka tour. With eight squad changes and three potential debutants, Pakistan's selectors are using the series as a reset for their T20I future.
Key Takeaways
Muneeba Ali Siddiqui named Pakistan women's T20I captain for the Sri Lanka tour starting 23 July .
Fatima Sana will lead the ODI leg but skip T20Is to play in The Hundred , becoming the first Pakistani women's cricketer in the competition.
Selectors made eight changes to the T20I squad from the recent World Cup lineup.
Eman Naseer , Maham Anees , and Momina Riasat are in line for their maiden T20I caps .
The ODI series forms part of the ICC Women's Championship 2025-29 ; matches on 23, 25, and 28 July in Hambantota .
Fatima Sana took 11 wickets and scored 85 runs at the Women's T20 World Cup, earning a spot in the Team of the Tournament .
Wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali Siddiqui has been named captain of the Pakistan women's T20I squad for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, after regular skipper Fatima Sana opted out of the shortest format to participate in The Hundred in England. The Women's National Selection Committee confirmed the appointments on Saturday, 18 July, alongside the announcement of separate 15-member squads for both the ODI and T20I legs of the tour.
Series Schedule and Squads
The tour comprises three ODIs and three T20Is, all to be played in Hambantota between 23 July and 4 August. The Pakistan squad is set to arrive in Sri Lanka on 20 July, with training sessions scheduled on 21 and 22 July ahead of the series opener. The ODIs — forming part of the ICC Women's Championship 2025-29 — are slated for 23, 25, and 28 July.
Fatima Sana's Historic Hundred Move
Fatima Sana will continue to lead Pakistan in the ODI leg before handing over T20I captaincy duties to Muneeba. She is set to become the first Pakistani women's cricketer to feature in the 100-ball competition in England. Fatima arrives at the tour in exceptional form, having claimed 11 wickets in five matches and scored 85 runs — including a half-century — at the Women's T20 World Cup in England and Wales, performances that earned her a place in the Team of the Tournament.
Eight Changes to the T20I Side
Muneeba will lead a heavily reshuffled T20I outfit, with selectors making eight changes from the squad that featured at the T20 World Cup. New entrants include Eman Naseer, Humna Bilal, Maham Anees, Momina Riasat, Najiha Alvi, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Umm-e-Hani, and Waheeda Akhtar. Of these, Eman Naseer, Maham Anees, and Momina Riasat are yet to earn their T20I caps and could make their international debuts during the series.
ODI Squad and Uncapped Picks
For the ODI series, Maham Anees and Saira Jabeen are the two uncapped players selected. The full Pakistan ODI Squad is: Fatima Sana (captain), Ayesha Zafar, Gull Feroza, Maham Anees, Momina Riasat, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sundhu, Sadaf Shamas, Saira Jabeen, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab, Umm-e-Hani, and Waheeda Akhter. The full Pakistan T20I Squad is: Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (captain), Ayesha Zafar, Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Humna Bilal, Maham Anees, Momina Riasat, Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sundhu, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani, and Waheeda Akhtar.
What to Watch
The series represents a significant opportunity for Pakistan's emerging T20I talent, with three potential debutants in the mix. How Muneeba marshals a rebuilt side — and whether the fresh faces can deliver against a competitive Sri Lanka — will shape Pakistan women's T20I direction ahead of future ICC events.
Point of View
But the real story is the T20I squad overhaul beneath it. Eight changes in a single series announcement signals that the selectors are less than satisfied with the World Cup vintage — and using a bilateral tour to accelerate a generational shift. Whether three potential debutants can hold their own against Sri Lanka at home will be a genuine test of Pakistan women's pipeline depth, not just a rotation exercise.
NationPress
18 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Muneeba Ali Siddiqui captaining Pakistan in the T20Is instead of Fatima Sana?
Fatima Sana is skipping the T20I leg of the Sri Lanka tour to participate in The Hundred in England, making her the first Pakistani women's cricketer to feature in the 100-ball competition. Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, the wicketkeeper-batter, has been named T20I captain in her absence.
When and where is the Pakistan women's tour of Sri Lanka 2025?
The tour runs from 23 July to 4 August 2025 in Hambantota, Sri Lanka. It includes three ODIs on 23, 25, and 28 July, followed by three T20Is.
Which players are in line for their T20I debut on this tour?
Eman Naseer, Maham Anees, and Momina Riasat are uncapped in T20Is and could earn their maiden international caps during the series against Sri Lanka.
How many changes did Pakistan make to their T20I squad from the World Cup?
Pakistan's selectors made eight changes to the T20I squad that featured at the recent Women's T20 World Cup. The new additions are Eman Naseer, Humna Bilal, Maham Anees, Momina Riasat, Najiha Alvi, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Umm-e-Hani, and Waheeda Akhtar.
What is the significance of the ODI series against Sri Lanka?
The three-match ODI series forms part of the ICC Women's Championship 2025-29, the qualification pathway for the next Women's ODI World Cup. Fatima Sana will captain Pakistan for these matches.
