Sadaf Shamas Ruled Out of Ireland T20Is; Shawaal Zulfiqar Joins Squad

Pakistan’s women’s cricket team has been dealt an early blow ahead of its three-match T20I series against Ireland, as top-order batter Sadaf Shamas has been ruled out due to injury. The series, scheduled from August 6 to August 10 in Dublin, will now see the team travel without one of its most reliable batters after Sadaf sustained a torn left quadriceps muscle during a practice session in Karachi.

The 26-year-old right-hander, who was expected to play a key role in stabilizing Pakistan’s batting lineup, underwent medical scans that confirmed she would miss the entire tour. In a prompt move, the selection committee named 22-year-old opener Shawaal Zulfiqar as her replacement in the 15-member squad.

Shawaal brings with her valuable international experience, having represented Pakistan in seven T20Is and three ODIs. A part of the recent 24-player skills camp in Karachi, she last featured in a T20I in December 2023 and returned to international action earlier this year during the Women’s ODI World Cup Qualifier in Lahore.

She is expected to join the national camp in Karachi before the team’s departure for Ireland on August 3, giving her a few training sessions with the squad to adapt before the opening match.

The series will be played at the Clontarf Cricket Club Ground in Belfast, where Ireland will look to make the most of familiar home conditions. Pakistan, on the other hand, will aim to continue its stellar run in 2025, having remained unbeaten so far this year, including a clean sweep at the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier on home soil.

Meanwhile, Ireland enter the series in high spirits after a dominant white-ball series victory against Zimbabwe, setting the stage for a competitive T20I contest between the two sides.