Muneeba Ali ruled out of Asian Games 2026

Pakistan Women’s National Cricket Team won a thriller against Thailand Women’s National Cricket Team in the Asian Games 2026 quarter-final to qualify for the semi-final. The team has really struggled to get to the last four; now they have been hit with another setback as their star opener, Muneeba Ali, who did not feature in this game, will miss the rest of the Asian Games 2026.

Fatima Sana’s side won the quarter-final by 3 wickets in a rain-curtailed game to qualify for the last four of the tournament.They nearly won the game from the jaws of defeat and will face the winner between Sri Lanka and Malaysia in the semi-final of the tournament. It was an 11 over side match due to the wet outfield.

Why Muneeba Ali will not take part in Asian Games 2026?

Opener Muneeba Ali has flown back home, as per reports from Cricinfo, and will not take further part in the ongoing women’s cricket at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan. She has gone back home due to her mother’s illness; this is a serious concern for the batter and her family, as she has been facing tough times on the field as well.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will not name a replacement for her because of logistical challenges and a time shortage, as the tournament is being played in a knockout format and will be over by September 22. Though Muneeba Ali did not take part in the first match, the reason was not revealed by her captain, Fatima Sana, during the toss.

Muneeba Ali’s recent form

She has been their best batter in recent times in the T20I format. She was in good form when she was appointed as the captain of the side for the Sri Lanka series, where Muneeba scored 109 runs in three matches with two 40+ scores. The Southpaw did not have the best of the Asia Cup 2026 as she scored only one fifty.

She was the only batter for the Women in Green to score a half-century in the whole competition. With Ali missing the rest of the Asian Games, it will be a headache for captain Fatima Sana, whose side has not been at their very best, and to win the gold medal, they have to beat Sri Lanka and India, which is a tough task.

Gul Feroza to take wicket-keeping duties in absence of Muneeba Ali

Gul Feroza, who opened the innings in the quarter-final against Thailand alongside Shawaal Zuilfiqar, will open the innings in the forthcoming games as well. She was batting at No.3 when Muneeba was present in the side and has done decently at the position. Feroza had a decent outing against Thailand as she scored 16 runs.

She has experience of opening prior to this, as she opened with Ali during the T20 World Cup and also scored a fifty. Feroza will also take up the wicket-keeping duties as Ali will not be present in the competition. The semi-final of the Asian Games is scheduled on Sunday.

Source: cricketaddictor.com