Captain Fatima Sana’s Pakistan women’s cricket team, fresh off a morale-boosting 119-run thrashing of hosts South Africa in the third ODI, now stares down an uncertain homeward journey as cross-border tensions in the Middle East trigger widespread airspace closures.
The white-ball tour, hosted by Laura Wolvaardt’s South Africa from February 10 to March 1, 2026, delivered edge-of-the-seat action. South Africa edged the three-match T20I series 2-1, then seized the ODI leg with a 37-run win in the first match and a 16-run victory in the second to clinch the series. Pakistan, however, roared back in the final game of the series to avoid a whitewash in the ODI series, at Kingsmead, posting 306/8 in 50 overs, their highest 1st innings total overseas in the format.
Pakistan’s batting masterclass was powered by half-centuries from Sadaf Shamas and skipper Fatima Sana, before a sharp collective bowling display skittled South Africa for 187 in 36.2 overs. The series ended 2-1 to the Proteas, but Pakistan capped their trip on a high note.
Now, jubilation has turned to limbo. Sources told Geo Super that the team, scheduled to fly from Durban to Pakistan via Dubai on Monday night, faces delays due to shuttered regional airports. Insiders say departure hinges on official resumption of flights; prolonged closures could force an extended stay in Durban for the Fatima Sana-led side.
Fatima Sana’s gritty leadership shone through the tour, her fifty in the finale underscoring Pakistan’s resilience against a formidable South African unit. Yet, as global headlines scream of Middle East instability, the squad’s return hangs in the balance, a stark reminder that off-field tensions can have their own effect on the international cricket calendar and the behind-the-scenes arrangements to ensure a smooth flow of the series.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has yet to comment, but players remain upbeat in Durban, awaiting clarity.
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