Asian Games 2026: Muneeba Ali flies back to Pakistan due to mother's illness

Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali is set to miss the ongoing women's cricket event at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan as she has flown home to be with her ill mother. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) won't name a replacement due to the logistical challenges and time constraints for the tournament, as it's being played in a knockout format and will be over by September 22.

In her place, Gull Feroza will take up the wicket-keeping duties as she did during her team’s opening game against Thailand. She will also open the batting, going one place up after batting at number three in the recently concluded Asia Cup.

Earlier, Feroza had also opened during the T20 World Cup 2026 with Muneeba and even scored an unbeaten 63 in their last league fixture against the Netherlands.

Muneeba Ali’s absence will be a big blow to Pakistan as she’s among the senior players in the team and was the only half-centurion from her side in the Asia Cup. 

Pakistan register narrow win in quarter-final 2

Earlier, she also took up the leadership duties in the T20I series against Sri Lanka in July, with regular captain Fatima Sana away in the UK to play for Birmingham Phoenix at the Women's Hundred.

Meanwhile, Pakistan survived a massive scare in the second quarterfinal of the Asian Games, registering a narrow three-wicket win over Thailand. Chasing a target of 92 in the rain-curtailed 12-over fixture, Pakistan huffed and puffed to reach the target with two balls remaining. 

They will next play either Sri Lanka or Malaysia in the first semi-final on Sunday, September 20.