Pakistan captain Fatima Sana added another significant chapter to her rapidly growing international career, surpassing 150 wickets across formats during Pakistan’s ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 semi-final against Sri Lanka at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 11. Entering the contest just one wicket short of the landmark, the 24-year-old all-rounder finished with a superb four-wicket haul after producing an unbeaten 47 with the bat, even as Sri Lanka secured a four-wicket win with eight balls remaining to reach the final.
Fatima Sana’s landmark came in the second semi-final of the sixth edition of the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup, hosted by the United Arab Emirates for the first time from August 28 to September 13. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu won the toss and chose to field, putting Pakistan under early pressure. Coming in at No. 6, Sana responded with a composed and valuable 47 not out off 36 balls, helping Pakistan recover to 130/5 from their 20 overs.
With Pakistan defending 131, Sana led from the front with the ball. She removed Sri Lanka skipper Athapaththu for 5 off 6 balls, the wicket that took her beyond 150 international scalps. The Pakistan captain then dismissed Sanjana Kavindi for a first-ball duck, before accounting for the key wickets of Harshitha Samarawickrama, who made 36 off 31 balls, and Kavisha Dilhari, who scored 33 off 33 balls. Her final figures of 3.4-0-38-4 reflected a spirited effort in a tense knockout fixture.
However, Sri Lanka held their nerve in the chase and crossed the finish line with four wickets in hand and eight deliveries to spare. The result sent Athapaththu’s side through to the final, where they will face Harmanpreet Kaur-led India. Despite Pakistan’s defeat, Sana’s decisive impact in both innings earned her the Player of the Match award, underlining her value as the central figure in the side.
Sana’s rise has been built on consistent returns in both white-ball formats since her ODI debut against South Africa at Potchefstroom on May 6, 2019. In 64 ODIs, she has claimed 85 wickets in 61 innings at an average of 28.30 and an economy rate of 5.44. Her ODI record includes four four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul, demonstrating her ability to make repeated breakthroughs as well as produce match-defining spells.
She made her T20I debut against South Africa in Pretoria on May 15, 2019, and has since taken 68 wickets in 64 innings across 67 matches. Her T20I wickets have come at an average of 22.75 and an economy rate of 7.39, with two four-wicket hauls. Her best T20I figures remain 4-0-26-4 against Ireland in Dublin on August 6, 2025, although Pakistan lost that match by 11 runs.
In the ongoing Asia Cup, Sana has been Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker and is currently the tournament’s second-highest wicket-taker. Her nine wickets in four innings have come at an exceptional average of 9.33 and an economy of 6.14, including her four-wicket semi-final burst. The milestone of 150 international wickets, paired with her match-saving batting contribution, reinforces Sana’s standing as one of Pakistan women’s most influential modern all-rounders.
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