Bismah Maroof to lead Pakistan Women on SA tour

Maroof had conceded the captaincy to Javeria Khan, after suffering an injury that had kept her out of the series against Bangladesh and Australia last year. Khan was subsequently retained as skipper for the World T20, though Maroof had made it back in time for the tournament.

However, Maroof was reinstated as captain ahead of the limited-overs series against West Indies earlier this year.

The squad for the South Africa series, announced on Saturday, 13 April, is the first by the newly-appointed, all-female selection panel, led by former Pakistan cricketer Urooj Mumtaz.

Pakistan will be keen to build on their performances against West Indies, whom they lost to 2-1 in the T20Is, but bounced back to win the ODI series by the same margin.

"We have rewarded the girls for their outstanding achievements against the Windies girls by maintaining consistency in the ODI squad, while we have made some tweaks in the T20I squad as we look forward to next year's ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2020," said Mumtaz. "We have a good bunch of cricketers who have displayed their capabilities and potential against the Windies girls and previous series."

The selectors have made a solitary change in the ODI squad, bringing in uncapped spinner Rameen Shamim in place of Saba Nazir. Kainat Imaz and Javeria Rauf have been selected ahead of Anam Amim and Natalia Parvez in the T20I squad.

"When we played South Africa in an ODI series last time, we narrowly lost 1-2, but I am hopeful we will be able to build on our success against the Windies girls and be able to do one better this time on the African safari," Mumtaz said.

"We have an excellent mix of senior and junior cricketers. I am sure under the wings of the experienced girls, the youngsters will thrive and make optimum use of the increased opportunities as these are extremely interesting times for women's cricket as far as more chances of exposure and experience exist, with enhanced performance-related incentives."

Pakistan will play three ODIs and five T20Is against South Africa. The ODIs will determine the ICC Women's Championship standings, where Pakistan are currently sixth.

Pakistan ODI squad: Bismah Maroof (captain), Aiman Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Javeria Khan, Kainat Imtiaz, Nahida Khan, Nashra Sandhu, Nida Dar, Rameem Shamim, Sana Mir, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wicket-keeper), Omaima Sohail

Pakistan T20I squad: Bismah Maroof (captain), Aiman Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Iram Javed, Javeria Wadood Khan, Javeria Rauf, Kainat Imtiaz, Nashra Sundhu, Nida Dar, Rameen Shamim, Sana Mir, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wicket-keeper), Omaima Sohail