Nida Dar appointed Pakistan women’s team’s new captain

Nida Dar has been appointed Pakistan women’s team’s new captain!

The development comes after Bismah Maroof stepped down after Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in February, where the team lost three of their four matches.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday announced the appointment of all-rounder Nida Dar as captain of the women’s national team.

Furthermore, PCB has brought back New Zealander Mark Coles as head coach ahead of a hectic year-long schedule.

“The appointments — Nida as captain and Coles as coach — have been made in light of the PCB’s vision and strategy to invest further into women’s cricket,” PCB said in a press release.

PCB hoped the appointments would lift the team as they host South Africa in September and October and then on tours to Bangladesh and New Zealand between October and December.

Pakistan team is set to feature 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, 36, was a member of the Pakistan side that won the Asian Games gold in Guangzhou in 2010 and Incheon in 2014.

“I am honoured to have been appointed as the captain of the Pakistan women’s cricket team,” Nida said in a statement, adding, “It is a huge responsibility, and I am excited to lead the team.”

Following his appointment, Mark Coles said, “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 has served as Pakistan’s head coach from 2017 to 2019.