MULTAN – The Pakistan women's cricket team, captained by Fatima Sana, is ready to challenge South Africa, led by Laura Wolvaardt, in a thrilling three-match Bank Alfalah T20I series kicking off at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Monday.
The remaining two T20Is are scheduled for the same venue on September 18 and 20, marking a historic first for Multan as it hosts an international women’s T20I series. Previously, the ground has welcomed 11 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and six Test matches.
These matches serve as a valuable opportunity for both teams to prepare for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE next month. South Africa, which finished as the runner-up in the last ICC Women’s T20 World Cup held in their home country, is visiting Pakistan for the second consecutive year. During their prior visit, South Africa participated in a white-ball series that included three T20Is and three ODIs as part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25, with Pakistan achieving a clean sweep in the T20I series held in Karachi from September 1 to 4.
To encourage attendance, entry to the stadium will be free for fans, who are required to present their original ID cards for access. Additionally, viewers in Pakistan can watch the matches in high definition on A Sports, with live streaming available on the PCB's official YouTube channel.
Following the series, South Africa will head to the UAE on September 21, while the Pakistan team is set to depart on September 23. Pakistan is placed in Group A for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, alongside Australia, India, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka, while South Africa finds itself in a group with Bangladesh, England, Scotland, and the West Indies.
Fatima Sana expressed her team's readiness: “The players have been working hard in training, and this series against South Africa is an excellent opportunity for us to prepare for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup next month. South Africa is a formidable opponent, and facing them will allow us to gauge our performance under pressure.”
She added, “We are thrilled to play at the beautiful Multan Cricket Stadium, especially as it is hosting its inaugural international women’s T20I series. The support from our fans in Pakistan has always been phenomenal, and with free entry, we hope many will come to cheer for both teams.”