The Women’s Asia Cup 2026 is all set to begin from August 28 (Friday). One of the teams to watch out for in the tournament is Pakistan, who will be eyeing their first-ever Asia Cup title.
In an unconventional move to gear up for a tournament where they have not reached the final in 10 years, the Pakistan team has been playing full T20 matches against a men’s squad.
Fatima Sana’s Pakistan squad faced off against the men’s team from the Abdul Qadir Cricket Academy, a mix of teenage and senior players, during their pre-tournament camp at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. Rather than running scenario-based practice sessions, these games were played under standard T20 rules.
Captain Fatima Sana emphasized that these matches were crucial for their readiness.
“We are well prepared for the tournament. We have played competitive matches against boys in which we were put under pressure. These learnings will help us adapt to the challenges of the competition,” Fatima said.
“We needed to understand how to handle the pressure better, and that is something which is highlighted whenever there is a big tournament. These matches have helped us on that front, and the difference will be visible,” she added.
Bouncing Back From T20 World Cup 2026
The Pakistan team heads into the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 looking to recover from a challenging T20 World Cup campaign, where they secured just one victory (against the Netherlands) in five matches. They suffered narrow losses to Bangladesh and South Africa and were thoroughly tested by heavyweights India and Australia.
Despite the team’s struggles, Fatima was a clear bright spot. She blasted an unbeaten 55 against South Africa and claimed 11 wickets, finishing as the tournament’s second-highest wicket-taker. After missing the recent series against Sri Lanka to play in The Hundred, she is poised to lead her side once again.
Pakistan Schedule For Women’s Asia Cup 2026
Pakistan is drawn in Group A alongside India, Thailand, and Hong Kong. Their group-stage fixtures are scheduled as follows:
September 1: vs. Thailand
September 5: vs. India
September 7: vs. Hong Kong