Pakistan women's team mentor Wahab Riaz has expressed confidence in his side's readiness for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, saying the Fatima Sana-led squad's youthful energy and rigorous preparation make them capable of a top-four finish. The tournament gets underway in England on 12 June, with Pakistan opening their campaign against India in Birmingham.

A Young Squad With Big Ambitions

'We have worked hard over the past few months, playing a series against Zimbabwe and facing Ireland and the West Indies. This is a young and energetic group that can rise to the occasion at the World Cup,' Wahab said in a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) statement on Thursday.

'Our focus is on playing a fearless and positive brand of cricket. We need to believe in our hard work, and the results will follow,' he added. The mentor's confidence is anchored in a packed pre-tournament schedule that included away T20Is in South Africa, a home series against Zimbabwe, and a tri-series in Ireland from 28 May to 4 June.

Fatima Sana's Form and Leadership

Seam-bowling all-rounder Fatima Sana captains Pakistan for a second consecutive T20 World Cup, having led the side at the 2024 edition in the UAE. She enters this tournament in exceptional form, having smashed the fastest half-century in women's T20 internationals — off just 15 balls — during Pakistan's 3-0 series sweep of Zimbabwe in Karachi last month. Her dual threat with bat and ball makes her arguably Pakistan's most pivotal player in England's seam-friendly conditions.

The Toughest Group in the Tournament

Pakistan have been drawn in Group 1 alongside six-time champions Australia, arch-rivals India, South Africa, Bangladesh, and debutants Netherlands. The group is widely regarded as the tournament's toughest pool. After facing India in Birmingham, Pakistan meet South Africa on 17 June in Birmingham, then travel to Southampton for the Bangladesh fixture on 20 June, before taking on Australia at Headingley, Leeds on 23 June. Their final group game against the Netherlands is scheduled for 27 June in Bristol.

'Our group has some of the finest sides in the tournament, and this is a good opportunity for us to start on the right track, with things getting easier as the event progresses,' Wahab said. 'I am confident that, given the hard work these players have put in, if they play to their potential, they will deliver a top-four finish.'

Adapting to English Conditions

Wahab acknowledged that English pitches present a specific challenge. 'The wickets in the UK are usually green and seaming. We have acclimatised to the conditions through the tri-series in Ireland and the two warm-up matches in Derby,' he said. Pakistan played warm-up games against Sri Lanka on 6 June and Scotland on 9 June in Derby, though both ended in defeats — a reminder that the acclimatisation process is ongoing.

Tournament Scale and What's at Stake

The 10th edition of the Women's T20 World Cup is the largest in the event's history, with the field expanding to 12 teams playing 33 matches across seven venues between 12 June and 5 July. For Pakistan, a top-four finish would represent a significant step forward in their women's cricket programme and validate the investment in a young, developing squad. 'A World Cup is a stage where the whole world is watching you. The team has to work hard and believe it can go the distance,' Wahab said.