Shawaal Zulfiqar is one of the most promising young cricketers in Pakistan. A right-handed opening batter who also bowls part-time off-spin, she has already shown the temperament and skill to thrive at the highest level. Born in Lahore in 2005, Shawaal made her international debut in September 2023, making her debut in both T20Is and ODIs against South Africa at the age of 18. Her rapid rise was built on consistent performances in domestic and junior cricket, where she stood out for her attacking batting and maturity well beyond her years. In the 2022–23 Women’s U-19 T20 domestic tournament, she led Central Punjab to the title without losing a match and finished as the competition’s leading run-scorer, underlining her potential as both a leader and a run machine. Her success at the youth level earned her a place in Pakistan’s squad for the first ICC Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup held in South Africa in January 2023. Later that year, she was selected for the senior team at the Asian Games and was soon awarded a central contract by the Pakistan Cricket Board in August 2023, marking her entry into the core group of national players. However, she missed out on the central contract in 2024 but returned to the fold in August of the following year. Unfortunately, in December 2023, Zulfiqar suffered a shoulder injury during Pakistan Women's tour of New Zealand. Due to this injury, she had to miss the entire 2024 cricket season. She returned to the national squad for the ODI World Cup Qualifiers in April 2025. Later, in August 2025, Shawaal’s progress continued when she featured in the T20I squad for the Ireland tour, and then, next month, played a home WODI series against the Proteas. Pakistan Women lost both these series. With her fearless batting style, sharp cricketing mind, and growing experience at the international level, Shawaal is seen as a cornerstone for Pakistan’s future. (As of September 2025)
