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

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana elected to bat first in her facet’s T20 Asia Cup opener in opposition to Thailand. Her resolution was influenced by the gradual and spin-friendly nature of the floor in Dubai, as was Pakistan’s choice, opting to go along with 4 spinners and herself as the only quick bowler.

“The pitch appears to be like gradual so we’re going to bat,” Sana mentioned on the toss, suggesting that something above 150 could be a great goal. Sadia Iqbal, Nashra Sandhu, Tuba Hassan, and Umm-e-Hani have been Pakistan’s 4 spinners. They retained their opening mixture of Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar regardless of the return of Gull Feroza within the facet, who was slotted at three.

Thailand captain Naruemol Chaiwai returned to the facet after lacking out the final recreation. These groups have performed two accomplished T20Is in opposition to one another with Thailand successful the final encounter in the course of the 2022 T20 Asia Cup in Sylhet. Chaiwai instructed her workforce would strategy this match as a brand new contest. “We’re going to deal with our energy and go exhausting from the primary ball.”

Thailand come into this contest with a six-run win over Hong Kong and a heavy defeat in opposition to India. They should win this recreation to remain alive within the competitors.

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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