Sadaf Shamas Ruled Out of Ireland T20Is; Shawaal Zulfiqar Called Up as Replacement

Pakistan’s women’s cricket team has suffered a setback ahead of their upcoming T20I series in Ireland. Top-order batter Sadaf Shamas has been ruled out of the three-match series, scheduled from August 6 to August 10 in Dublin, after suffering a torn left quadriceps muscle during a practice session in Karachi.

The 26-year-old was expected to anchor Pakistan’s batting lineup, but medical scans confirmed that her injury will sideline her for the tour. In her place, 22-year-old opening batter Shawaal Zulfiqar has been drafted into the 15-member squad. Shawaal, who was part of the recent 24-player skills camp in Karachi, brings prior international exposure—having played in seven T20Is and three ODIs. Her last T20I came in December 2023, and she returned to international action earlier in 2025 during the Women’s ODI World Cup Qualifier in Lahore.

Shawaal is set to join the national camp in Karachi before the team departs for Ireland on August 3. The tour will feature matches at Clontarf Cricket Club Ground in Belfast, where Ireland plans to test Pakistan in familiar home conditions.

Pakistan enters the series with strong momentum—undefeated in 2025, having won all five matches during the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier at home. Ireland, meanwhile, arrives in confident form after sweeping Zimbabwe in a recent white-ball series.