Fatima Sana, the young captain of Pakistan’s women’s cricket team, is set to return to Karachi on Thursday following the unfortunate passing of her father, as confirmed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Arrangements have been made for her to fly home on the earliest available flight, meaning she will likely miss Pakistan’s crucial match against Australia in Dubai on Friday. In her absence, Muneeba Ali will assume the role of interim captain for the team.
Since taking over the captaincy from Nida Dar, Sana has focused on transforming Pakistan’s approach, combining data analytics with a stronger emphasis on batting depth and strategic plays.
Sana’s importance to Pakistan’s campaign at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 cannot be overstated. She made a resounding impact right from the start, guiding her side to a memorable win over Sri Lanka in their opening match. With a match-winning performance that included a vital knock of 30 runs and two key wickets, including that of Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu, Sana ensured Pakistan got their tournament off to the perfect start.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to Pakistan captain Fatima Sana on the loss of her father.
Rest in Peace 🙏 pic.twitter.com/lKz7tPMo7S
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) October 10, 2024
Against India, Sana was again instrumental, contributing a quick 13 runs in a low-scoring contest. More significantly, her bowling put India under considerable pressure, as she removed both Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh in quick succession, creating a brief period of uncertainty for India in their chase. Her efforts were critical in keeping Pakistan’s net run rate manageable, despite their eventual defeat.
Sana’s absence comes at a critical juncture in Pakistan’s tournament, as they look to advance from a challenging Group A. With a win and a loss from their first two games, Pakistan currently sits third in the group. To improve their chances of reaching the semi-finals, they must win at least one of their remaining matches, ideally both. Following the Australia game, Pakistan will face New Zealand on Monday in Dubai in their final group-stage match.
At just 22 years old, Sana has already made a mark in international cricket. In her 45 T20I appearances, she has accumulated 359 runs, with her highest score of 37* coming against South Africa. With the ball, she has taken 35 wickets, her best figures of 3 for 18 achieved against New Zealand. Sana’s leadership journey began when she captained Pakistan in an ODI against New Zealand in December 2023, and she made her T20I captaincy debut against South Afrifa in September 2024.
Her absence will undoubtedly be a setback for Pakistan as they fight to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
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