Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali will miss the remainder of the Asian Games 2026 after returning home because of her mother’s illness, the team confirmed on Thursday.
Muneeba was not included in Pakistan’s playing XI for their rain-affected quarterfinal against Thailand at Korogi Sports Park. Gull Feroza took over wicketkeeping duties and also opened the innings.
Pakistan will not name a replacement for Muneeba, with logistical constraints and the short duration of the six-day cricket tournament making it difficult to bring in another player. Feroza is expected to continue as wicketkeeper for the remainder of Pakistan’s campaign.
Feroza returned to the opening position after batting at No. 3 during the recently concluded Asia Cup, where Pakistan were eliminated in the semifinals. She had also opened during the Women’s T20 World Cup and finished their final group-stage match unbeaten on 63.
Muneeba is one of the senior members of the Pakistan side, having represented the country in 101 T20Is and 65 ODIs, with more than 3,000 runs across the two formats. She also captained Pakistan during their bilateral series against Sri Lanka in July when Fatima Sana was featuring in The Hundred.
Pakistan booked their place in the Asian Games semifinals after surviving a close contest against Thailand, winning the rain-affected quarterfinal by three wickets.
The match was reduced to 11 overs per side, with Thailand scoring 91/4 after being sent in to bat. Nannapat Koncharoenkai top-scored with 49 off 38 balls, while Fatima Sana led Pakistan’s bowling effort with two wickets.
Pakistan made a positive start to the chase as Feroza and Shawaal Zulfiqar put together 36 runs for the opening wicket. Thailand fought back after the partnership was broken, with regular wickets putting Pakistan under pressure.
Fatima then steadied the innings with a quick 21 off 13 balls. She was dismissed on the first ball of the ninth over, leaving Pakistan needing 19 runs from 17 deliveries.
Tuba Hassan then provided momentum, hitting a four and a six before being dismissed off the final ball of the 10th over after scoring 13 from seven balls.
Pakistan required four runs from the final over with three wickets in hand. Umm-e-Hani held her nerve and hit the winning runs off the fourth delivery of the 11th over to seal Pakistan’s three-wicket victory and a place in the semifinals.