Wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali will captain Pakistan for the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka after the PCB granted regular skipper Fatima Sana permission to join Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred.
Pakistan have named a revamped T20I squad for their upcoming three-match series against Sri Lanka in Hambantota, with veteran wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali set to lead the side in the absence of regular captain Fatima Sana. The all-rounder will miss the T20I leg of the tour after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) granted her permission to leave for England following the conclusion of the ODI series to take part in The Hundred.
Sana, who became the first Pakistan woman to secure a contract in the women’s edition of The Hundred when Birmingham Phoenix signed her through the tournament’s wildcard draft during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, will feature in all three ODIs against Sri Lanka before departing for England.
The decision to release the captain mid-tour is a notable one by the PCB, reflecting both the board’s desire to give its premier player exposure to high-quality franchise cricket and a willingness to use the T20I series as an opportunity to blood new talent and test alternative leadership.
Muneeba Ali: A Proven Deputy
The captaincy appointment is far from a gamble. Muneeba Ali, 28, has served as Pakistan’s most trusted deputy for several years and has previous experience leading the side in high-pressure situations.
During the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE, Muneeba stepped in as interim captain after Fatima Sana was forced to leave the tournament following the sudden death of her father. In emotionally charged circumstances, Muneeba rallied the squad for the crucial group-stage match against Australia, vowing to “play for Fatima and her father.” While Pakistan ultimately did not progress past the group stage, Muneeba’s handling of the situation earned widespread respect within the team and beyond.
The Karachi-born left-hander has been a mainstay of Pakistan’s batting lineup since establishing herself as the team’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter and opening partner. She made history at the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa when she scored a century against the hosts, becoming the first Pakistan player, male or female, to register a T20I hundred. That innings remains one of the defining moments in Pakistan women’s cricket history.
With 320-plus international appearances across formats, Muneeba brings both experience and calmness to the role. Her natural authority behind the stumps and her position at the top of the order give her an ideal vantage point from which to set the tone for the team’s performance.
Why Fatima Sana Is Missing the T20Is
Fatima Sana’s absence is a calculated move rather than a crisis. The PCB made a deliberate decision to allow their captain to take up the opportunity with Birmingham Phoenix, viewing it as a chance for the 24-year-old to develop her game in one of the world’s most competitive franchise environments.
Sana was acquired by Phoenix in the wildcard draft after Australia’s Lucy Hamilton was withdrawn to manage workload, filling the franchise’s fourth overseas slot at the tournament’s minimum salary of £15,000 (approximately PKR 5.6 million). She will miss Phoenix’s first two fixtures as she completes her ODI commitments with Pakistan, but will be available for the remainder of the competition, which runs from July 21 to August 16.
A PCB official told ESPNcricinfo that the decision was taken so Sana “could benefit from the experience of playing in the competitive Hundred environment.” The sentiment reflects a broader shift in the PCB’s approach to women’s cricket, recognizing that overseas franchise exposure can accelerate player development in ways that bilateral cricket alone cannot.
Sana’s form heading into the tour is encouraging. During the T20 World Cup 2026 in England, she produced a stunning all-round performance against South Africa, scoring 55 not out off 38 balls and taking 3 for 16, further cementing her reputation as one of the most exciting all-rounders in the women’s game. She will continue to lead Pakistan in all three ODIs against Sri Lanka, which carry crucial ICC Women’s Championship qualification points, before handing the reins to Muneeba for the T20I leg.
A New-Look Squad With Fresh Faces
The T20I squad announced for the Sri Lanka series carries a distinctly different complexion from the team that contested the T20 World Cup 2026 in England, where Pakistan were eliminated in the group stage after winning just one of their five matches, beating only the Netherlands in their final fixture.
That disappointing campaign, which included defeats to India, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Australia, prompted the PCB and the selection committee to take a harder look at the T20I setup. The Sri Lanka series provides an ideal platform to experiment with combinations, test emerging talent, and begin the process of rebuilding ahead of the next major cycle.
Several experienced players who featured in the World Cup squad are expected to retain their places, including Aliya Riaz, Nashra Sundhu, Sadia Iqbal, and Tuba Hassan. But the inclusion of new faces signals a clear intent to broaden the talent pool and create competition for places.
The selectors have been encouraged by performances in domestic cricket, particularly the National Women’s T20 Tournament, which has produced a crop of young bowlers and batters who are pressing for international recognition. The likes of Amber Kainat, who impressed with 11 wickets in eight domestic T20 matches earlier this season, and Saira Jabeen, who was previously part of the squad for the South Africa tour, are among those who could feature.
The Sri Lanka Tour Schedule
Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka is a dual-format assignment based entirely in Hambantota. The ODI series, which forms part of the ICC Women’s Championship, is scheduled for July 23, 25, and 28. Fatima Sana will captain the side for all three matches before departing for England.
The T20I series under Muneeba Ali’s captaincy follows immediately, with matches on July 31, August 2, and August 4. All six fixtures will be played at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium.
For Pakistan, the tour represents the first bilateral assignment since their early exit from the T20 World Cup and a chance to reset the narrative around the women’s program. The ODIs carry genuine stakes given their Women’s Championship significance, while the T20I series offers a lower-pressure environment to develop depth and test new ideas.
Pakistan Women’s Cricket at a Crossroads
The decision to split the captaincy and allow Sana to prioritize The Hundred over national duty during the T20I series highlights the evolving dynamics of women’s cricket. Franchise leagues are playing an increasingly important role in player development and career planning, and Pakistan, traditionally behind the curve on women’s cricket investment compared to nations like Australia, England, and India, are now actively encouraging their players to seek those opportunities.
Sana’s trailblazing Hundred contract is a milestone in itself. No Pakistan woman had ever been signed by a franchise in the competition before, and her presence at Birmingham Phoenix will provide visibility and inspiration for the next generation of Pakistani women’s cricketers.
At the same time, the Sri Lanka tour under Muneeba Ali offers the team management a chance to assess who can step up when the captain is absent. In modern cricket, where multi-format schedules, franchise commitments, and workload management increasingly overlap, having reliable leadership alternatives is no longer optional. It is essential.
For Muneeba, the series is a chance to further establish herself as one of the most important figures in Pakistan women’s cricket, both as a batter and as a leader. For the uncapped and younger players in the squad, it is an audition for bigger stages. And for the PCB, it is an opportunity to demonstrate that the women’s program is being built with both the present and the future in mind.
CricketVoices will provide match previews, squad updates, and live coverage of Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka.
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