Pakistan Women’s Team Stranded in South Africa After Tour
The Pakistan women’s team is stranded in South Africa after their tour due to escalating Middle East tensions that have closed regional airspace . The national team was scheduled to depart from Durban for Pakistan via Dubai on Monday night, but ongoing instability has cast serious doubts over their return .
According to sources close to the team, the players will only begin their journey back once authorities formally announce the resumption of flight operations in the affected region . If airports and airspace remain closed for an extended period, the team may need to extend their stay in Durban indefinitely .
Pakistan Women’s Team : Match Summary
Despite the travel uncertainty, the Pakistan women’s team capped off their white-ball tour of South Africa with a thumping 119-run victory over the hosts in the third ODI at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban on March 1, 2026 . This marked Pakistan’s biggest-ever ODI win over South Africa and provided a consolation at the end of a closely contested series .
Brief Scores:
- Pakistan Women: 306 for 8 in 50 overs (Sadaf Shamas 97, Fatima Sana 60 not out, Sidra Amin 41; Sune Luus 3/42)
- South Africa Women: 187 all out in 36.2 overs (Annerie Dercksen 54, Faye Tunnicliffe 47; Sadia Iqbal 3/41, Fatima Sana 2/29, Umm-e-Hani 2/35)
- Result: Pakistan Women won by 119 runs
- Player of the Match: Sadaf Shamas (Pakistan) for her brilliant 97 off 82 balls
Read Also Here: India vs West Indies T20 World Cup 2026 Report
Pakistan’s Innings: Sadaf and Fatima Shine
Put into bat first, Pakistan lost opening batter Gull Feroza early for 13 with just 31 runs on the board . What followed was a magnificent recovery led by Sadaf Shamas and Sidra Amin.
Sadaf Shamas played the innings of her life, scoring a career-best 97 off just 82 balls . Her knock was laced with 16 boundaries and one six, dominating the South African bowling attack with elegance and power . She found an able partner in Sidra Amin, who contributed a solid 41, as the pair stitched together a crucial 130-run partnership for the second wicket that took the score to 161 .
After Sadaf’s dismissal on the final ball of the 25th over and Sidra’s departure soon after, Pakistan lost two quick wickets, finding themselves at 164 for 3 . The middle order wobbled briefly, reducing the visitors to 216 for 5 after 39 overs .
That’s when captain Fatima Sana took charge. She produced a breathtaking unbeaten 60 off just 41 balls, smashing three fours and five sixes in a late onslaught that propelled Pakistan past the 300-run mark . She was well supported by Najiha Alvi, who contributed 36 in a 65-run sixth-wicket partnership . Fatima brought up her fifth ODI half-century and remained unbeaten as Pakistan finished at a commanding 306 for 8 after 50 overs .
For South Africa, veteran off-spinner Sune Luus was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 42, while Nonkululeko Mlaba claimed 2 for 56 .
South Africa’s Chase: Pakistan Bowlers Dominate
Chasing 307 for victory, South Africa’s innings never gained momentum. Debutant Tasmia Rubab provided the first breakthrough in her very first over, dismissing Tazmin Brits for just 4 .
Captain Fatima Sana then produced a magical spell, removing her counterpart Laura Wolvaardt (1) and Sune Luus (0) in the space of three deliveries to leave the hosts reeling at 7 for 3 after just two overs .
Faye Tunnicliffe (47) and Annerie Dercksen (54) attempted a recovery, adding 85 runs for the fourth wicket . However, Nashra Sundhu broke the partnership by having Tunnicliffe caught and bowled . Dercksen went on to complete a fighting half-century but found little support from the lower order.
The spin trio of Sadia Iqbal, Nashra Sundhu, and Umm-e-Hani ran through the South African batting lineup. Sadia finished with impressive figures of 3 for 41, while Umm-e-Hani claimed 2 for 35 . Fatima Sana ended with 2 for 29 in her five overs as South Africa were bowled out for 187 in 36.2 overs .
Series Summary: Close Contests Throughout
The ODI series, which was also part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2025-29, was closely contested throughout . South Africa won the three-match series 2-1:
- 1st ODI (Bloemfontein): South Africa won by 37 runs
- 2nd ODI (Centurion): South Africa won by 16 runs in a high-scoring thriller (over 700 runs scored)
- 3rd ODI (Durban): Pakistan won by 119 runs
Earlier in the tour, South Africa had also won the T20I series 2-1 .
Updated ICC Women’s ODI Rankings
Following the conclusion of the Australia-India and South Africa-Pakistan ODI series, the ICC Women’s ODI team rankings have been updated :
Rank Team Matches Points Rating
1 Australia 29 4749 164
2 England 36 4550 126
3 India 41 5154 126
4 South Africa 40 4044 101
5 New Zealand 23 2129 93
6 Sri Lanka 27 2223 82
7 Bangladesh 24 1798 75
8 Pakistan 27 1935 72
9 West Indies 29 2036 70
10 Ireland 32 1588 50
Pakistan remain in eighth position after their 2-1 series defeat, though the consolation victory in the final ODI provided valuable ICC Championship points .
The Return Journey: Stranded in Durban
While the on-field performance ended on a positive note, the team’s off-field situation remains deeply uncertain. The Pakistan women’s team was scheduled to depart from Durban on Monday night, traveling via Dubai — a route that has now become impassable due to the closure of multiple airports in the Middle East following military strikes and escalating tensions .
According to Geo Super sources, the team will only begin their return journey once authorities officially announce the resumption of flight operations in the affected region . If airports and airspace remain closed for a longer period, the team may need to extend its stay in Durban indefinitely, creating uncertainty for players and management who had expected to travel soon after finishing the series .
The situation has also affected other cricket activities. The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed that the second unofficial ODI between England Lions and Pakistan Shaheens in Abu Dhabi was cancelled due to security concerns, and a planned training camp for England Women in Abu Dhabi next week has also been postponed . The ICC stated that it continues to monitor the regional situation closely to ensure safe conditions for all teams and events .
Upcoming Schedule: Preparations for T20 World Cup
The timing of this travel uncertainty is particularly challenging given Pakistan’s packed upcoming schedule. The PCB has already summoned a squad of 27 women players for a week-long skills training camp scheduled from March 7 to 14 at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore .
The camp is designed to prepare the squad for:
- The domestic National Women’s T20 tournament
- A home series against Zimbabwe
- An away T20I tri-series in Ireland
- The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England (starting June 12)
The selected cricketers are expected to train under the supervision of the current senior women’s team coaching staff, led by team mentor Wahab Riaz . The regimen will focus on honing cricketing skills, enhancing physical fitness, and engaging in scenario-based and practice matches .
The PCB had originally stated that Pakistan’s ODI squad would return to Pakistan on March 2 . With that timeline now in doubt, participation in the preparatory camp could be affected if the team remains stranded in South Africa.
Analysis by Best Pak Mag
The Pakistan women’s cricket team finds itself in an unprecedented situation — triumphant on the field but stranded off it. Their magnificent 119-run victory over South Africa in the final ODI was a statement performance, with Sadaf Shamas’ career-best 97 and Fatima Sana’s explosive 60 demonstrating the depth of talent in this squad . The fact that this was Pakistan’s biggest-ever ODI win over South Africa speaks volumes about the progress the team has made under Fatima Sana’s leadership.
Yet the geopolitical situation has cruelly overshadowed their achievements. The closure of Middle Eastern airspace due to escalating military tensions has left the team stranded, unable to return home despite having completed their commitments . For players who have been away from home for weeks, this uncertainty is mentally taxing — particularly when they had hoped to reunite with families after a long tour.
The timing could not be worse. With a crucial preparatory camp scheduled to begin March 7 at the National Cricket Academy, every day of delay in Durban represents lost preparation time for the T20 World Cup in England . The PCB now faces a logistical nightmare — either arranging alternative travel routes if airspace remains closed, or extending the team’s stay in South Africa with all the associated costs and disruptions to training schedules.
The cancellation of the England Lions vs Pakistan Shaheens match in Abu Dhabi and the postponement of England Women’s training camp underscore that this is not an isolated incident . Cricket administrations across the world are scrambling to respond to a rapidly evolving security situation.
For now, the Pakistan women’s team waits in Durban — heroes of a historic victory, but stranded far from home. Their return depends on forces far beyond cricket, and the cricketing world watches with concern.
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