Pakistan Women will take on Sri Lanka Women in the 1st Semi-Final of the <a href="https://cricket.international/what-happens-if-mohsin-naqvi-hands-medals-to-team-india-at-asian-games/” title=”What happens if Mohsin Naqvi hands medals to Team India at Asian Games?”>Asian Games Women’s Cricket Competition 2026 at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on September 20. With a place in the medal matches at stake, Pakistan will need several of their experienced players to step up when they face a strong Sri Lankan side.
Among the names that stand out for Pakistan are Shawaal Zulfiqar, Ayesha Zafar and Fatima Sana. Muneeba Ali is another prominent name in the team, but the wicketkeeper-batter is not taking part any further part in the Asian Games after returning to Pakistan due to her mother’s illness. The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed her absence before the tournament, with Gull Feroza included as the wicketkeeping option.
Shawaal Zulfiqar
Shawaal Zulfiqar enters the Pakistan Women vs Sri Lanka Women semi-final as one of the players to watch after producing some impressive performances in recent T20I cricket. The right-handed batter has already shown her ability to score quickly against Sri Lanka. During Pakistan’s three-match T20I series in Sri Lanka in July and August 2026, Shawaal scored 63 off 41 balls, 48 off 35 balls and 21 off 12 balls, finishing the series with 132 runs at an average of 44.00 and a strike rate of 150.00.
Her recent form has continued into the Asian Games Women’s Cricket Competition 2026. Shawaal scored 25 off 14 balls against Thailand in Pakistan’s quarter-final, striking at 178.57. Before that, she made 24 against Sri Lanka, 47 against Hong Kong and 14 against India during the Women’s Asia Cup. The numbers shown ahead of the semi-final are equally encouraging, with 243 runs in her last eight matches at an average of 30.38 and a strike rate of 141.27.
Ayesha Zafar
Ayesha Zafar will be another important player to watch when Pakistan face Sri Lanka in the Asian Games semi-final. The right-handed batter has considerable T20I experience and possesses the ability to accelerate the innings when required. One of her most notable recent performances came against Zimbabwe in May 2026, when she smashed an unbeaten 102 off 47 balls, including 15 fours and two sixes. The century demonstrated her ability to take control of an innings and score at a rapid rate.
Ayesha’s T20I career currently includes 48 matches and 670 runs, with the highest score of 102. She has scored at an average of 15.56 and a strike rate of 103.07, while also taking 11 wickets with the ball.
Fatima Sana
Fatima Sana carries responsibility in both departments for Pakistan. The all-rounder is leading the side at the Asian Games 2026 and will have an important role to play both with the ball and in the batting order. Sana has played 68 T20Is, scoring 892 runs at an average of 31.86 and a strike rate of 132.94. She has a highest score of 90 and three half-centuries. With the ball, she has taken 70 wickets at an average of 22.41, with best figures of 4/26.
Her recent performances underline why she remains such an important player for Pakistan. Against Thailand in the Asian Games quarter-final, Sana contributed 21 off 13 balls and took 2/22 in three overs. She also produced an impressive all-round performance against Sri Lanka in the recent Asia Cup, scoring an unbeaten 47 off 36 balls before finishing with 4/38 with the ball.
With the match now entering the knockout stage, Fatima’s captaincy will be tested alongside her all-round skills. Her bowling could be particularly important when Pakistan look to break partnerships, while her batting gives the team another option if wickets fall during the innings.
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Source: femalecricket.com
