Tag: Aliya Riaz

LAHORE: Former women’s captain Nida Dar and all-rounder Aliya Riaz have been left out by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) from the list of central contracts for the 2024-25 international season.

The cricket board awarded the central contracts to 16 women’s cricketers, effective from 1 July 2024, following an annual performance review. Last year, 20 players had received contracts for a two-year period, with the provision that performance would be reassessed after the 2023-24 season.

Pakistan women’s captain Fatima Sana and wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali have been elevated to Category A, while left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal has moved up to Category B, reflecting their recent performances and growing stature in the game.

The list includes three new entrants: Gull Feroza, Rameen Shamim, and Tasmia Rubab. Tasmia has earned the contract for the first time, marking an important milestone in her career, while Rameen and Gull have returned to the central contract list for the first time since 2018 and 2022-23, respectively.

The contracts of Aliya Riaz, Anosha Nasir, Eyman Fatima, Nida Dar, Shawaal Zulfiqar and Sidra Nawaz have not been renewed for the upcoming season.

However, these players will remain available for selection, as the PCB shifts its focus towards developing the next generation of cricketers in alignment with the ICC Women’s Future Tours Programme 2025-29.

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“On behalf of the PCB, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali and Sadia Iqbal on their well-earned promotions, as well as to Tasmia Rubab for receiving central contract for the first time,” said PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmad Syed.

“Tasmia’s inclusion and progression, as well as return of Gull Feroza and Rameen Shamim highlight our commitment to recognising consistent performances and rewarding talent.

“The 2024-25 central contracts reflect our forward-looking strategy as we prepare for the new ICC Women’s Future Tours Programme.

“By further investing in established players through significantly enhanced retainers and offering clear pathways to the emerging cricketer, we aim to strike a balance between nurturing future stars and sustaining competitiveness at the highest level.

“Women’s cricket is a cornerstone of our broader development strategy. The PCB is committed to providing our women cricketers with resources, opportunities and support they need to excel.

“These contracts not only incentivise current players but also inspire the next generation to dream big and push the boundaries of what they can achieve.

“Our vision is clear: to build a stronger and more competitive Pakistan women’s team that can consistently challenge on the global stage and proudly represent the nation in upcoming ICC events.”

Pakistan Women’s Central Contract List for the 2024-25 season

List of centrally contracted players:

Category A – Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali and Sidra Amin

Category B – Nashra Sundhu, Sadia Iqbal

Category C – Diana Baig, Omaima Sohail

Category D – Ghulam Fatima, Gull Feroza, Najiha Alvi, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani

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LEEDS: Pakistan batter Aliya Riaz completed 1000 runs in women’s T20Is on Sunday during the third T20I against England at Headingley.

The right-handed batter became the fifth women’s player from Pakistan to achieve the milestone after Bismah Maroof, Javeria Khan, Nida Dar and Muneeba Ali.

Aliya Riaz was Pakistan’s top-scorer with an unbeaten 35 off 27, hitting four boundaries in the third T20I. Pakistan suffered a 34-run defeat, resulting in a 3-0 whitewash.

Chasing 177, Pakistan women’s team was restricted to 142/4 in 20 overs, courtesy of economical bowling by England.

Pakistan openers Gull Feroza and Sidra Ameen started the pursuit cautiously, scoring 60 off 55 for the first wicket. Sophie Ecclestone ended Ameen’s anchoring knock of 26 runs from 29 deliveries.

Pakistan lost three more wickets in quick succession, slipping to 73-4 in 11.4 overs.

With 104 required off 50 balls, Pakistan captain Nida Dar and Riaz joined hands to complete the marathon chase.

However, England’s economic bowling did not allow them to meet the increasing required run rate.

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Dar and Riaz raised an unbeaten 69-run stand but failed to take the team across the finish line as Pakistan managed 142-4 in their allocated 20 overs.

Earlier, England chose to bat first and Danielle Wyatt cautiously started the innings with a one-sided partnership with Maia Bouchier (8) before Bouchier was run out in the sixth over with 36 runs on the board.

Wyatt was joined by Nat Sciver-Brunt, who scored a meagre eight runs in 10 balls and fell prey to Dar in the ninth over.

England’s skipper Heather Knight then joined a settled Wyatt on the crease. Wyatt switched gears and attacked Pakistan bowlers, while Knight played an anchor’s role.

Wyatt scored 47 runs during the 59-run stand for the third wicket, raising the team’s total to 118 before Diana Baig ended her entertaining knock.

She top-scored for England with 87 runs from 48 balls with the help of 13 boundaries, including one six.

Wicketkeeper Amy Jones then played a 26-run cameo off 15 balls to drag the team’s total to 162 amidst falling wickets from the other end. Jones was dismissed by Fatima Sana in the penultimate over.

Baig bowled the final over for Pakistan, taking two wickets, while Lauren Filer got run out on the last ball to finish England’s innings at 176.

Baig returned with figures of 3-26, while Dar claimed three wickets for 45 runs.

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LAHORE: Pakistan women’s team led by all-rounder Nida Dar is set to depart for Bangladesh from here later tonight to feature in a three-match each ODI and T20I series.

The three ODIs are part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25. The series will be played in Chattogram and Dhaka from 25 October to 10 November.

Pakistan women’s team underwent a six-day training camp here, which was largely affected by rain, but the players made full use of the indoor facilities at the National Cricket Academy and prepared themselves for the forthcoming series.

Pakistan women’s team, currently ranked eighth on the ICC T20I rankings, will take on ninth-ranked Bangladesh in the three T20Is, all scheduled in Chattogram on 25, 27 and 29 October.

In the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25, Pakistan are on fourth spot, earning 12 points from 12 matches, which included six wins and as many defeats.

The hosts have played nine matches in the championship to date, with one win, one tie and three losses. Four matches were declared as no-result due to rain.

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Aliya Riaz, who played the role of a finisher in the recently concluded T20I series against South Africa, hopes the team will perform in the same manner in the forthcoming series.

“We had a rigorous training camp despite the weather challenges in Lahore. Our team is determined and well-prepared to face Bangladesh in the upcoming series,” said Aliya.

“We are confident in our abilities and aim to deliver the same level of performance in the T20I series that we recently displayed against South Africa.

“The ODI series being part of the ICC Women’s Championship is very important and we are eager to get maximum points from the series.

“Bangladesh is a competitive team, especially in their own backyard, and we respect their abilities. Our focus is on our game plan, and once we arrive there, we will try to adapt to the wickets there as quickly as possible to ensure we perform at our best.”

Pakistan squad:

Nida Dar (captain), Aliya Riaz, Bismah Maroof, Diana Baig, Ghulam Fatima, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali (wk), Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda Akhtar

Player support personnel: Nahida Khan (manager), Mauhtashim Rashid (interim head coach), Saleem Jaffar (bowling coach), Taufiq Umar (batting coach), Muhammad Asfand Yar (strength and conditioning coach), Syed Nazir Ahmed (media manager), Rifat Asghar Gill (physiotherapist) and Zubair Ahmed (analyst).

READ: Pakistan suffer a setback ahead of Australia clash

KOWLOON: Tornadoes’ Aliya Riaz and Diana Baig handed back-to-back jolts to Warriors before rain played spoilsport in the fourth match of the FairBreak Invitational tournament 2023 on Wednesday. 

Electing to field first, Tornadoes made a flourishing start to the game thanks to a brilliant bowling attack led by the Pakistani duo.

When rain halted play Warriors were 84 for 3 with wicketkeeper Sindhu Sriharsha and Tanya Ruma holding the crease on 17 and 21, respectively. 

Diana earned the first breakthrough for Tornadoes, dismissing Esha Oza for a paltry 3 in the third over. Aliya then struck down Ellie Johnstone an over later to restrict the Warriors to 28/3 in the fifth over. 

Australia’s Phoebe Litchfield, however, was in fine touch as she scored 27 off 21 and held the fort for the Warriors while wickets tumbled from the other end. Her knock was cut short by Chanida Sutthiruang before the end of the powerplay.

The game witnessed only 12 overs of play before the showers forced umpires to abandon the match. The two teams shared two points each, taking the Warriors to the top of the table with six points from two games.

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ISLAMABAD: Super Women sealed a commanding eight-wicket win over Amazons in the first Women’s League exhibition match on Wednesday, thanks to an all-round effort by skipper Nida Dar and Laura Wolvaardt’s unbeaten 53. 

Nida Dar picked up three wickets before returning to the crease to score 23 not-out to take her side home with 25 balls to spare.

South Africa’s Wolvaardt, however, led the batting charge for Super Women as she smashed six fours and a maximum on the final ball to bring up her fifty.

The two gathered an unbeaten 68-run partnership after openers Muneeba Ali and Chamari Athapathtu set the tone of the chase with handsome knocks of 33 and 23 respectively.

Electing to bat first, Bismah Maroof-led Amazons managed 132/9 in the 20 overs with the help of Aliya Riaz’s sensible knock of 38 from 35 balls.

The overseas opening pair of Tammy Beaumont and Danni Wyatt gave Amazons a flourishing start as they raised 46 on board before Syeda Masooma Zehra found the breakthrough in the final over of the powerplay. England’s Beaumont was shown the exit after she struck 24 with help of four boundaries. 

Wyatt followed the suit and three balls later handed her wicket to Super Women’s captain Dar at 22. Amazons’ skipper Bismah was dismissed cheaply by Umme Hani in the 7th over.

Tuba Hasan made her presence felt in the middle overs as he removed England’s Maia Bouchier and Australia’s Tess Flintoff on 18 and 2 respectively.

Aliya then held the fort for her team and made 38 from 35 balls while wickets kept on tumbling from the other end. She left the crease in the 18th over after steering her side to 120.

Dar made back-to-back strikes in the 19th over, dismissing Fatima Sana (13) and Nashra Sandhu to keep Amazons under check.

 

SYLHET: Aliya Riaz and Muneeba Ali led the charge of Pakistan batting as the Green Shirts thumped the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by 71 runs in the Women’s Asia Cup 2022, here on Sunday. 

Aliya starred with a brilliant half-century as she blasted 57 off 36, laced with five fours and three sixes, aiding Pakistan to raise a respectable total of 145/5 after they were put to bat by UAE.

Set to chase 148, UAE batters put up an impressive show and consumed too many dot balls as they only managed 74/5 in the allotted 20 overs.

For Pakistan Sadia Iqbal, Aiman Anwer, Nashra Sandhu and Omaima Sohail took a scalp each.

Earlier in the first innings, Muneeba played a cautious knock of 43 off 45 amid a dismal show by the top-order as opener Sidra Ameen (2), skipper Bismah Maroof (7) and Omaima Sohail (0) fell cheaply on a paltry total of 41.

Muneeba was then joined by Aliya on the crease and moved the scoreboard to 77 before  Esha Oza dismissed Muneeba in the 14th over. 

All-rounder Nida Dar, on the other hand, played a superb cameo of unbeaten 25 off 17 balls as she combined excellently with Aliya for the seventh-wicket partnership of 67 runs and took the national team to a comfortable position in the game.

For UAE, Oza remained phenomenal with the balls as she produced the remarkable bowling figures of 3/22, while Mahika Gaur and Vaishnave Mahesh took a scalp each.

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