Pakistan Prepare For Women’s Asia Cup 2026 By Playing T20 Matches Against Men

The men’s side included both teenage and older players, with the matches organised in T20 format to help Pakistan’s players improve their decision-making in pressure situations.

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Pakistan prepare for Women’s Asia Cup by playing T20 matches against men. (Picture Credit: AFP)

Pakistan women’s cricket team is preparing for the 2026 edition of the Women’s Asia Cup by playing T20 matches against men. The Women in Green, who are yet to win the tournament, are leaving no stone unturned in their preparations for the premier continental event, which is set to begin on August 28 in Dubai.

As per the available information, Pakistan’s women’s team have played matches against the men’s team at the Abdul Qadir Cricket Academy in Lahore. The men’s side included both teenage and older players, with the matches organised in the T20 format to help Pakistan’s players improve their decision-making in pressure situations against tougher opponents. The matches also challenged them with the men’s superior skills and fitness standards.

According to Pakistan women’s team captain Fatima Sana, the matches against the men’s side have helped the team in their preparations.

“We are well prepared for the tournament,” she was quoted as saying by Cricinfo.

“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,” she added.

Pakistan faced heavy criticism for their poor performance in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, which was played in England earlier this year. They will be under pressure to deliver in the upcoming Asia Cup and win their first-ever title.

“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 (against men) 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 crunch moments and stay in control by trusting their hard work and executing the plans,” she added.

In the Women’s Asia Cup, Pakistan will open their campaign on September 1 with a Group A match against Thailand. They will then take on arch-rivals India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 5. Their third and final group-stage match is scheduled against Hong Kong on September 7.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals.

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The unique training method of playing T20 matches against male cricketers is intended to help Pakistan’s women’s team improve their decision-making under pressure and adapt to tougher match situations. Pakistan’s captain, Fatima Sana, stated that these competitive matches against boys, which put them under pressure, will help them handle challenges and adapt to competition.

Women’s teams playing against male players face challenges due to the men’s superior skills and fitness standards. These matches are organised to help women improve their decision-making in pressure situations against tougher opponents.

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About the Author

Harshit BishtSenior Sub-editor

Harshit Bisht is a sports journalist at CNN-News18, where he has been covering cricket, football, and major sporting events from around the world since July 1, 2024. Driven by a passion for storytelli…Read More

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Original source: https://www.news18.com/cricket/