ISLAMABAD – The training camp of the Pakistan National Women’s Football Team began on the 19th of June at Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad, under the supervision of Head Coach Adeel Rizki.The camp has been organized in preparation for the upcoming AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers and will end on the 26th of June. The WNT play their opening game on the 29th of June and will head back after playing their last game on the 5th of July.
Group Overview
Pakistan will open their AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers campaign on 29th June against Chinese Taipei, followed by a clash with hosts Indonesia on 2nd July, and will conclude the group stage against Kyrgyzstan on 5th July. All matches will be held at the Indomilk Arena, Jakarta.
Changes to the Squad
The squad was announced on June 14 and features six new diaspora players: Mariam Mehmood, Layla Banaras, Aqsa Mushtaq, Azwa Chaudhry, Zeevana Jivraj, and Marsha Malik. However, the team will miss big names such as Kaya Bokhari, Kayla Siddiqi, Sara Khan, and Aliza Sabir. The squad will look to use the services of their senior players such as Captain Maria Khan, Nadia Khan and Zulfia Nazir.
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Rizki’s Regime
Adeel Rizki, who has been at the helm since 2022, has overseen a period of growth and promising results. The women’s team is currently ranked 157th in the FIFA Rankings. Pakistan last featured in an international fixture in December 2024, drawing 1-1 with Saudi Arabia in a friendly. Prior to that, they participated in the SAFF Women’s Championship in October, finishing bottom of their group after a 1-1 draw with Bangladesh and a 5-2 loss to India.
The Road to Australia
Pakistan have their eyes set on qualifying for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2026, which will be held in Australia. However, with only 8 spots left, it will be a bit trickier for the team. To secure a spot at the Asian Cup, teams will have to top their qualifying group. With several fresh faces and renewed energy, the squad will be eager to impress and make their mark on the continental stage.
Exclusive Interview with Crossbar.pk
In an exclusive interview with Crossbar, Pakistan’s goalkeeper, Nisha Ashraf, emphasized the team’s ambition heading into the qualifiers, stating,
“Our mentality is set on making it to the Asian Cup. We’re working day and night to achieve this goal with the help of Head Coach Adeel Rizki.”
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