LAHORE: The Pakistan women’s cricket team’s return home from South Africa has been delayed due to cross-border tensions in the Middle East and partial closure of the region’s airspace, sources told Jio Super on Monday.
The national team was originally scheduled to leave Durban for Pakistan via Dubai on Monday night, following the conclusion of the ODI series, which has affected air operations in the Middle East due to ongoing regional tensions.
Sources said that although air traffic will resume on a limited basis today, the return journey of the women’s national team will begin only after the flight operations are fully normalized.
As a result, the Pakistan women’s team’s stay in Durban has been extended and the situation regarding their return will be clarified in the next two to three days, the sources added.
Notably, Pakistan toured South Africa and won the three-match series 2-1 in each T20I and ODI series.
The national team clinched the White Ball Tour by 119 runs against South Africa in the third ODI at Kingsmead, Durban on Sunday.
Batting first, the Green Shirts amassed a mammoth total of 306/8 in their 50 overs, aided by half-centuries from Shatab Shams and captain Fatima Sana, who combined to restrict South Africa to 187 in 36.2 overs.
Pakistani teams
T20I: Fatima Sana (catch), Alia Riaz, Ayesha Jafar, Ayman Fatima, Gul Feroza (week), Hamna Bilal, Muneefa Ali (week), Nashra Sundu, Natalia Parvaiz, Umm-e-Hani, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Zabeen, Chitra Rubabs, Tabaz Amin,
ODIs: Fatima Sana (catch), Alia Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Gul Feroza, Muneefa Ali (VK), Najiha Alvi (VK), Nashra Sundu, Natalia Parvaiz, Umm-i-Hani, Shatab Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Chitra Amin, Dasromyob and Dasromyob.