Uncapped Akhtar in Pakistan Women's World Cup squad

Pakistan women have recalled Marina Iqbal and Kainat Imtiaz and included uncapped Waheeda Akhtar in their 15-member squad for the ICC Women's World Cup, which begins in June in England.

Wicketkeeper Sidra Nawaz, who had missed the ICC World Cup Qualifier in Sri Lanka earlier this year due to a leg injury, has recovered and has been picked in the side. Asmavia Iqbal and Diana Baig have also been recalled, part of five changes to the team that toured Sri Lanka.

The players who have been dropped are Aiman Anwer, Aliya Riaz, Maham Tariq, Muneeba Ali and Rabiya Shah.

Marina, an opening batsman who also bowls seam, last played an international match for Pakistan in the T20 format in November 2015. Her last appearance in ODIs was in October 2015, on the side's tour of the West Indies.

Imtiaz, a seamer who has played four ODIs and one T20I, also last played a 50-over match for Pakistan in 2015.

Asmavia has not played a match for Pakistan since the Women's T20 Asia Cup in Bangkok last year, while Baig was part of the side for the New Zealand tour in November 2016.

The squad will be captained by Sana Mir. Pakistan had finished seventh out of eight teams in the ICC Women's Championship, and had to play the Qualifier in Sri Lanka to secure their place in the World Cup. They finished second in Group B and qualified for the Super Six stage, and went on to secure a place in the World Cup despite a loss to India in their final match of the tournament.

Sabih Azhar, who replaces Kabir Khan as the team's coach, will oversee the team's preparation for the tournament.

The World Cup will be played between June 24 and July 23, with Pakistan's opening match on June 25 against South Africa. The team will play two warm-up matches before that: on June 20 and 22, against West Indies and Australia respectively.