The Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) draft is just around the corner, set for September 1st, and the tournament is scheduled from October 27th to December 1st. Cricket Australia, on August 25th, revealed a new list of nominees that includes 11 talented female cricketers from Pakistan.
This new lineup features several standout players such as Pakistan’s newly appointed captain, Fatima Sana, veteran all-rounder and former skipper Nida Dar, pace bowler Diana Baig, and powerful hitter Aliya Riaz. Additionally, emerging stars Tuba Hasan and Aroob Shah are also nominated for the 10th edition of the WBBL. Let’s take a closer look at these six Pakistani cricketers:
Fatima Sana – The ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year 2021 has made significant strides in her career. With over five years of experience and 40 T20Is, Fatima has captured 31 wickets, including a best of 3 for 18 against the White Ferns. She has also scored 215 runs, with a recent notable innings of 23 off 17 in the Asia Cup 2024 semi-final. Fatima has been appointed as Pakistan’s captain for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE this October.
Nida Dar – At 37, Nida Dar is the most experienced Pakistan player in the shortest format, boasting 153 T20I appearances. She has taken 143 wickets at an impressive average of 19.62, including a standout 5 for 21 against Sri Lanka. Nida has also accumulated 1964 runs, with a top score of 75 against South Africa.
Aliya Riaz – The right-arm pace-bowling all-rounder has played 92 T20Is and is closing in on her 100th match. In these matches, Aliya has batted 77 times, amassing 1035 runs with the best of 57 not out against the UAE. With 20 wickets from 32 innings, including notable scalps like Marizanne Kapp, Alyssa Healy and Meg Lanning, her all-round performance is well-regarded.
Diana Baig – At 28, Diana is a unique cricketer who has represented Pakistan in both cricket and football. She hails from Gilgit and has played 51 T20Is, taking 38 wickets with a best of 3 for 26 against England. Her dual-sport background and dedication highlight her as a remarkable player.
Tuba Hasan – The leg-spinner made her T20I debut in May 2022 against Sri Lanka and has since played 29 T20Is, capturing 23 wickets at an average of 22.65. Her best performance of 3 for 8 came in her debut match against Sri Lanka. Additionally, Tuba’s ability to provide crucial runs is demonstrated by her 28 off 20 against England in February 2023.
Aroob Shah – Despite making her debut just before turning 16 in 2019, Aroob Shah has only played 11 T20Is since then. Her most impressive performance came during the Asia Cup 2024 against arch-rival India, where she excelled with figures of 2 for 9. In a standout spell, Aroob dismissed both openers, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, demonstrating her potential as a rising star.
The list of international stars also includes names like Harmanpreet Kaur, Sophie Ecclestone, Laura Wolvaardt, Jemimah Rodrigues, Heather Knight, Danni Wyatt, Deepti Sharma, Suzie Bates, and Shabnim Ismail. The tournament will kick off with the defending champions Adelaide Strikers facing the two-time champions Brisbane Heat at Adelaide Oval, a repeat of last year’s thrilling final.