LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Thursday that all-rounder Nida Dar had been appointed as the new captain of the women’s national team, replacing Bismah Maroof, who stepped down after Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in February.
The PCB also brought back New Zealander Mark Coles as head coach for his second stint.
According to a PCB news release, the appointments of Dar and Coles were made to further invest in women’s cricket and the team’s vision and strategy.
Pakistan will host South Africa in September and October, followed by tours to Bangladesh and New Zealand between October and December.
The team is also scheduled to participate in the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh and the eight-team ICC Women’s World Cup in India in 2025.
Nida Dar was part of Pakistan team that won Asian Games gold
Dar, 36, who was a member of the Pakistan sides that won Asian Games gold in Guangzhou in 2010 and Incheon in 2014, said, “I’m honoured to have been appointed as the captain of the Pakistan women’s cricket team. It is a huge responsibility, and I am excited to lead the team.”
Coles, who previously served as Pakistan’s head coach from 2017 to 2019, expressed his optimism about the team’s potential.
“We have a lot of potential in the team, and I look forward to helping the players to give their best and achieve success on the international stage,” Coles said in the PCB release.
Pakistan’s women’s cricket team has been improving over the years, and the recent appointments of Dar and Coles are expected to further enhance their performance in upcoming matches and tournaments.