T20 Asia Cup 2026 – Pakistan bat in their campaign opener on slow pitch

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana elected to bat first in her side’s T20 Asia Cup opener against Thailand. Her decision was influenced by the slow and spin-friendly nature of the surface in Dubai, as was Pakistan’s selection, opting to go with four spinners and herself as the sole fast bowler.

“The pitch looks slow so we are going to bat,” Sana said at the toss, suggesting that anything above 150 would be a good target. Sadia Iqbal, Nashra Sandhu, Tuba Hassan, and Umm-e-Hani were Pakistan’s four spinners. They retained their opening combination of Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar despite the return of Gull Feroza in the side, who was slotted at three.

Thailand captain Naruemol Chaiwai returned to the side after missing out the last game. These teams have played two completed T20Is against each other with Thailand winning the last encounter during the 2022 T20 Asia Cup in Sylhet. Chaiwai suggested her team would approach this match as a new contest. “We are going to focus on our strength and go hard from the first ball.”

Thailand come into this contest with a six-run win over Hong Kong and a heavy defeat against India. They need to win this game to stay alive in the competition.

Pakistan: 1 Muneeba Ali (wk), 2 Shawaal Zulfiqar, 3 Gull Feroza, 4 Ayesha Zafar, 5 Sadaf Shamas, 6 Fatima Sana (capt), 7 Eyman Fatima, 8 Tuba Hasaan, 9 Nashra Sandhu, 10 Sadia Iqbal, 11 Umm-e-Hani

Thailand: 1 Naruemol Chaiwai (capt), 2 Nannapat Khoncharoenkai (wk), 3 Natthakan Chantham, 4 Chanida Sutthiruang, 5 Suleeporn Laomi, 6 Naomi Hamilton, 7 Onnicha Kamchomphu, 8 Thipatcha Putthawong, 9 Phannita Maya, 10 Aphisara Suwanchonrathi, 11 Sunida Chaturongrattana

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