Wahab Riaz has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to launch a women’s T20 league on the lines of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), saying increased exposure to international competition is vital to the growth of the national side.
The former Pakistan fast bowler, who now serves as a mentor to the women’s team and national coach, said that while they have talent, the players are hampered by a lack of opportunities against stronger opposition.
“The PSL is a big success for us and although our girls are not short of talent, they lack the experience and exposure of playing against stronger teams and players,” Wahab told reporters in Karachi.
Riaz is currently overseeing the team’s training camp in Karachi ahead of the upcoming bilateral series against Zimbabwe, which will mark the Zimbabwean women’s side’s first visit to Pakistan. The tour, which is scheduled from April 29 to May 15, will feature three T20 Internationals and three One Day Internationals (ODIs).
He said a domestic franchise league with overseas players could play a key role in improving standards and allow local cricketers to learn by sharing dressing rooms with international stars. Riaz also urged the PCB to create more opportunities for players to participate in foreign T20 leagues.
The mentor described the Zimbabwe series as an important task. The ODI portion is part of the ICC Women’s Championship and brings key points to the rankings, while the T20 matches will help the team prepare for this year’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England.
Despite concerns about a tough World Cup group, Riaz stressed the need to focus on faith rather than the opposition.
“We mustn’t focus on the group, we just have to believe in ourselves. T20 is a format where any team can beat another on its day,” he said.
Riaz also highlighted fitness and field training as areas that have shown improvement, with the recent camps in Karachi and Lahore focusing on these aspects along with mental strength and game awareness.
“The improvement in performance is largely due to higher fitness levels. We are also working on the mental strength and game awareness that was lacking,” he added.
He pointed out that limited match exposure compared to the men’s team continues to affect decision-making and confidence at international level.
Riaz reiterated that stronger domestic structures and more international opportunities are key to raising the level of women’s cricket in Pakistan.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
13 Apr 2026 17:18 IST
