Nida Dar named captain of Pakistan women’s team

In a major shake-up in the Pakistan women’s cricket team, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently announced 36-year-old all-rounder Nida Dar as the team’s skipper going forward. Apart from Dar, Mark Coles has been appointed as the head coach of the women’s team, whereas former Pakistan cricketer Saleem Jaffar was appointed as the chair of the women’s selection committee.

The major changes come on the back of a major shake-up and in light of the board’s vision for women’s cricket in the country. The women’s team of Pakistan will be playing as many as five bilateral series between August 2023 and July 2024, which includes quite a few major tournaments as well. 

Following Dar's appointment, she came forward to talk about her new role and how excited she was to get started. He also reflected on how excited she was over the prospect of leading Pakistan in future events.

"I am honored 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 in the upcoming events. I want to thank the PCB for entrusting me with this responsibility and will do my best to take the team forward," Nida Dar was quoted as saying by Pakistan Cricket.

"I also want to thank Bismah Maroof for her services as the captain of the team. She has done a fantastic job, and I hope to continue her legacy and lead the team with the same passion and commitment," she added.

Nida is a seasoned and highly respected player: Najam Sethi

Following the shake-up and several new appointments, the chairperson of the PCB, Najam Sethi, also reflected on the appointments of Nida Dar, Mark Coles, and Saleem Jaffer.

"I want to congratulate Nida, Mark, and Saleem on their appointments. Nida is a seasoned and highly respected player, Mark has a proven track record in women's cricket coaching, and Saleem brings with him a wealth of international experience and knowledge," Najam Sethi said.

 "We are confident this combination will not only attract and help young cricketers fulfil their dreams of becoming top-quality international cricketers, but will also ensure the side as a whole emulates their previous performances and achievements," he added.