Pakistan fast bowler Diana Baig will miss the upcoming T20I series against Australia and the Women's T20 World Cup due to an injury. Diana suffered a fracture in the index finger of her right hand during the third ODI against Australia. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that batter Sadaf Shamas will replace Diana in the Pakistan squad for the series.
In a press release, the PCB stated, “Right-arm fast bowler Diana Baig has been ruled out of Australia T20Is and ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 due to fracture in her index finger of the right hand. Right-handed batter Sadaf Shamas, who is part of the reserves for Australia T20I series and ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will replace Diana.”
Diana sustained the injury when she tried to take a return catch on the penultimate ball of the seventh over of Australia’s innings during the third ODI. She was taken to the local hospital where X-rays confirmed the fracture. The PCB Medical panel has advised Diana to rest for four weeks.
Australia defeated Pakistan in the third and final ODI of the series in Sydney by 101 runs. Pakistan was chasing a massive target of 337 runs but were only able to score 235-7 in their allotted 50 overs. The two teams will now participate in a three-match T20I series, starting on January 24th.
The T20I series schedule is as follows: January 24th at North Sydney Oval No.1, North Sydney; January 26th at Blundstone Arena, Hobart; January 29th at Manuka Oval, Canberra. The Pakistan T20I squad includes Bismah Maroof (c), Aimen Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Naseem, Sadaf Shamas, Fatima Sana, Javeria Khan, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nashra Sandhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wk) and Tuba Hassan.
In travelling reserves, only Ghulam Fatima and Kainat Imtiaz are left.
