Women’s Asia Cup 2026 – Fatima Sana’s Pakistan prepare with T20 matches against men

It has been a decade since Pakistan played the final of the competition, and to make sure they go a step further than the last edition, which saw them lose the semi-final to eventual winners Sri Lanka, they have played matches against the men’s side of the Abdul Qadir Cricket Academy, which included teenaged and older players, in the pre-tournament camp at the NCA in Lahore.

These matches were organised as proper 20-over competitions rather than scenario games to incorporate jeopardy and to help the players improve their decision-making in crunch moments against a tougher opponent, which pushed them with their superior skills and fitness standards.

Fatima Sana, Pakistan’s captain, believes these games aided the team’s preparations. “We are well prepared for the tournament,” she said. “We have played competitive matches against boys in which we were put under pressure. These learnings will help us adapt to the challenges of the competition.”

Pakistan’s recent slide in T20Is has been attributed to their lack of attention to detail, and their inability to maintain a stronghold in pressure situations. They could win only one match out of five in this year’s T20 World Cup, where they beat just Netherlands. Pakistan attracted criticism for squandering opportunities in close matches against South Africa and Bangladesh, while their below-par fielding and tendency to get disoriented against stronger teams was felt against India and Australia.

Sana was the only bright prospect in an otherwise gloomy campaign for Pakistan at the T20 World Cup, with the captain earning plaudits for her all-round skills. No fast bowler had more wickets in the competition than her 11 as she finished with the joint second-most wickets. She also got a half-century at the T20 World Cup, scoring 55 not out off 38 balls against South Africa, and finished with an average of 21.25 and a strike rate of 110.38.

“We needed to understand how to handle the pressure better, and that is something which is highlighted whenever there is a big tournament,” Sana said. “These matches have helped us on that front, and the difference will be visible… It is very important to stay calm in pressure situations rather than pressing the panic button. We have told the girls to stay calm in the crunch moments, and stay in control by trusting their hard work and executing the plans.”

Sana returns to lead Pakistan in T20Is after skipping the three-match series in Sri Lanka in July-August, which Pakistan lost 2-1, in order to feature in the Hundred. She was picked by Birmingham Phoenix in the replacement draft.

“It was exciting to play in the Hundred as all eyes were on me because I was the first ever woman cricketer [from Pakistan] to play in the competition,” she said, having picked three wickets at 37.66, and scored 57 runs at an average of 19 for Phoenix. “It is always a great honour to represent Pakistan. I wanted to do [my] best, and thankfully, I was able to do good, which I hope will open the doors for more women in the competition.”

The Women’s Asia Cup will be held in Dubai from August 28 to September 13. Pakistan are in Group A, alongside India, Thailand and Hong Kong. They begin their campaign on September 1 against Thailand, before playing India on September 5. Their last group-stage match will be two days later, against Hong Kong.

“Definitely the conditions [in Dubai] are similar [to Pakistan], and we are well-aware about how we have to play in them,” Sana said when asked whether the tournament being played in Dubai provided any advantage to her side.

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