Karachi, May 31 (IANS): Seasoned Bismah Maroof will lead Pakistan's hopes in next month's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom, as the selectors have retained the squad that recorded Pakistan Women's maiden T20I series clean sweep against Sri Lanka last week.

Before the Commonwealth Games, the team will participate in a tri-series in Ireland.

The squad was finalised after deliberations amongst Asmavia Iqbal, the national women team's chief selector, head coach David Hemp and captain Bismah Maroof.

Eighteen players have been announced for the two series, which include three reserve players, Ghulam Fatima, Sadaf Shamas and Umme Hani.

Pakistan will take on T20 world champions Australia and hosts Ireland in Belfast from July 16 to 24 and play Barbados, India and Australia in the Commonwealth Games between July 29 and August 3.

"Following a successful series against Sri Lanka, we have decided to retain the same winning combination. Not only did our senior cricketers in the side display great cricketing acumen also our youngsters were outstanding and have raised their hands whenever the team needed them to," chief selector Asmavia Iqbal was quoted as saying by Pakistan Cricket Board in a release on Tuesday.

"We are delighted with the start Tuba Hassan has had to her international career and feel her leg-spin will be a potent weapon for us in the days ahead. Ayesha Naseem produced a match-winning innings in the second match of the T20Is against Sri Lanka and proved her big-hitting ability.

"The tri-series in Ireland and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games will test the abilities of our players and I have all the belief in them that they will live up to the expectations and show consistent results," she added.

"The tri-series in Ireland and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games will test the abilities of our players and I have all the belief in them that they will live up to the expectations and show consistent results," she said.

Head of Women Cricket in Pakistan, Tania Mallick, said, "I want to thank the Commonwealth Games for accepting our request to accommodate our captain Bismah Maroof's family at the games village which will allow her to focus on the task at hand without any worries about her young infant daughter."

Ahead of their departure to the UK on July 12, the team will undergo an extensive training session in Islamabad at the House of Northern from July 1 to 11.

The Pakistan Women squad: Bismah Maroof (c), Aimen Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Naseem, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gull Feroza (wk), Iram Javed, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wicketkeeper), Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal and Tuba Hassan.