Pakistan U19 Women’s Tournament set to begin in Karachi

KARACHI: Pakistan’s next generation of women cricketers will get a major opportunity to showcase their talent when the National Women’s U19 Tournament begins in Karachi on Thursday, with 75 players from 24 cities set to compete in a two-format competition.

Organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board, the tournament will be held from August 20 to September 4 at the NBP Sports Complex and HPC Oval Ground.

Five teams — Conquerors, Challengers, Strikers, Stars and Invincibles — will compete in a double round-robin league. Each side will play eight matches, with the top two teams progressing to the final.

The competition will introduce players to both 30-over and Twenty20 cricket. The opening 10 matches will be played over 30 overs, while the remaining 10 league games and the September 4 final will be contested in the T20 format.

Fizza Fiaz will captain Challengers, while Samiya Afsar, Ravail Farhan, Komal Khan and Zoofishan Ayyaz will lead Conquerors, Strikers, Stars and Invincibles respectively.

The squads arrived in Karachi on August 16 and completed three days of training ahead of the tournament. Several players earned selection through trials conducted by the women’s national selection committee in different parts of the country.

Members of Pakistan’s U19 squad that recently featured in a five-match T20 series against South Africa will also take part, giving the tournament an additional competitive edge.

Beyond the title, the event is designed as an important pathway for identifying players who could represent Pakistan at upcoming international competitions, including the ACC Women’s U19 Asia Cup and ICC Women’s U19 World Cup.

The tournament also carries a financial incentive. The champions will receive Rs1 million, while the runners-up will earn Rs750,000.

All league matches are scheduled to begin at 9:30am Pakistan time, giving fans and selectors an early look at some of the country’s emerging women’s cricket talent.

National Women’s U19 Tournament 2026-27 – squads

Conquerors:

Samiya Afsar (captain), Nasreen Ashraf (vice-captain, wk), Abeera Riaz, Areeqa Fatima, Amna Shahnawaz, Eashal Emaan, Eeshal Saif (wk), Hadia Mina, Mah Noor, Malaika Suhani, Maryam Sajjad, Narjis Bibi, Nasreen Ashraf (vice-captain, wk), Noor-e-Sahar, Syeda Batool Fatima, Zainab Irfan

Challengers:

Fizza Fiaz (captain), Memoona Khalid (vice-captain), Aleena Aslam Shah, Esha Tir Razia, Farya Sadaqat, Huba Nadeem, Laiba Karim, Mahnoor, Mahnoor Zeb, Maryam Ahmed, Pakeeza Shabbir, Sualeha Haroon (wk), Urooj Gul, Zainab Fatima (wk), Zala Ali.

Strikers:

Ravail Farhan (captain), Ifrah Mehroz (vice-captain), Adieyah Noor, Areeba Noor (wk), Areesha Ansari (wk), Maria, Meerab Shaikh, Minahil binte Nasrullah, Raima Imran, Samia Ashraf, Shahar Bano, Toufeeq Fatima, Ume Mayesha, Zahra Ali, Zainab Khanam

Stars:

Komal Khan (captain, wk), Aqsa Habib (vice-captain), Afsheen Khan, Alishba Yaseen, Anfal Malik, Barirah Saif, Emaan Afridi (wk), Fizza Ameen, Mehak Arif, Meerab Khan, Nabiha Amir, Qamrosh Farhan, Rozina Akram, Rukhsar Arif, Sawera Ramzan.

Invincibles:

Zoofishan Ayyaz (captain), Alzoha Hammad (vice-captain), Aashal Saeed (wk), Anaya Khan, Anosha Karim, Asma Bint-e-Azad, Ayesha Imran Riaz, Laraib Nizakat, Lubaba Mahmood, Maha Abbas, Maham Nazakat, Maryam Fatima (wk), Minahil Parvaiz, Quratulain Zehra, Raahima Syed

Tournament Schedule (All matches to begin at 9.30am PKT)

First leg – 30-over matches

20 August

Invincibles v Stars at NBP Sports Complex

Challengers v Conquerors at HPC Oval Ground

21 August

Strikers v Conquerors at NBP Sports Complex

Challengers v Stars at HPC Oval Ground

23 August

Invincibles v Strikers at NBP Sports Complex

Conquerors v Stars at HPC Oval Ground

24 August

Challengers v Strikers at NBP Sports Complex

Invincibles v Conquerors at HPC Oval Ground

26 August

Stars v Strikers at NBP Sports Complex

Invincibles v Challengers at HPC Oval Ground

Second leg – 20-over matches

27 August

Invincibles v Stars at HPC Oval Ground

Challengers v Conquerors at NBP Sports Complex

29 August

Strikers v Conquerors at HPC Oval Ground

Challengers v Stars at NBP Sports Complex

30 August

Invincibles v Strikers at HPC Oval Ground

Conquerors v Stars at NBP Sports Complex

1 September

Challengers v Strikers at HPC Oval Ground

Invincibles v Conquerors at NBP Sports Complex

2 September

Stars v Strikers at HPC Oval Ground

Invincibles v Challengers at NBP Sports Complex

4 September – Final

Top two teams – Venue – TBC