Tag: Fatima Sana

LAHORE: Fatima Sana has been named Pakistan women’s cricket team captain as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.

The mega-event will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 3 to 20 October.

The decision to appoint Fatima Sana was made unanimously by the women’s national selection committee.

22-year-old Fatima, who has featured in 41 ODIs and 40 T20Is, has previously led Pakistan emerging and domestic sides.

She also captained the Pakistan side to a famous ODI win against New Zealand in a Super Over at the Hagley Oval, Christchurch, in December 2023.

Fatima will replace 37-year-old all-rounder Nida Dar, who took over as all-format captain from Bismah Maroof.

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Nida, a veteran of 112 ODIs and 153 T20Is, is part of the side that has been clubbed with Australia, India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Group A. The revised fixtures of the group will be announced by ICC in due course.

The selection committee has made only one change in the squad, which featured in last month’s ACC Women’s Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.

Right-handed batter Sadaf Shamas, who was also part of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 in South Africa, has made a comeback in the squad in place of wicketkeeper-batter Najiha Alvi, who will travel with the side as a reserve player.

From the 2023 edition, 10 players (Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sundhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin and Tuba Hassan) have been retained, while uncapped left-arm pacer Tasmia Rubab makes it to the final 15.

Pakistan squad for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024

Fatima Sana (c), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal (subject to fitness), Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab and Tuba Hassan

Travelling reserve: Najiha Alvi (wk) Non-traveling reserves: Rameen Shamim and Umm-e-Hani

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Fatima Sana has been named captain of the Pakistan women’s team, taking over from Nida Dar, who has been ruled out from the second ODI against New Zealand women at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Friday, 15 December.

Nida is the third player from the 17-member squad selected for the New Zealand series to get injured on the tour.

Earlier, Shawaal Zulfiqar (second T20I) and Diana Baig (one day before the first ODI) got injured and were ruled from the remaining matches on the tour.

Under Nida’s leadership, Pakistan became the first Asian country to beat White Ferns in the T20I series in their own backyard, while right-handed batter Shawaal’s 41 off 42 balls, which included seven fours, was the highest score from the winning side in the first T20I. Diana, with her right-arm fast bowling, has bowled well in the powerplay in T20Is.

Nida, the regular captain, led the side in the first ODI at the John Davies Oval in Queenstown on Tuesday.

However, she was struck by a ball on her own bowling in the 44th over of the innings. Nida was subsequently taken off the field due to the impact and Fatima was named the stand-in captain.

Following assessment by the doctor today, Nida has been reported to have symptoms of concussion. She has been advised complete rest for the next two days.

Nida’s availability for the third ODI will be determined in due course.

22-year-old Fatima Sana, who made her international debut in the away series against South Africa in May 2019, will become the 10th captain of the women’s team in the ODI format, when she walks out for the toss in Christchurch tomorrow.

The right-arm fast bowler, having missed the recent Bangladesh series due to injury, made a remarkable comeback, earning the player of the series award in the three T20Is against White Ferns played from 3 to 9 December.

Fatima bagged six wickets at an economy rate of 5.60 in the series and was named player of the match for her figures of 4-0-18-3 in the first T20I at the University of Otago Oval in Dunedin on 3 December.

In June, Fatima captained the Pakistan women’s emerging team in the ACC Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup held in Hong Kong, where the side narrowly lost to Bangladesh in the semi-final.

In domestic cricket, Fatima has led PCB Blasters in the T20 Women’s Cricket Tournament and took her side to victory, beating PCB Dynamites by seven runs at the Gaddafi Stadium on 9 December 2022.

The Karachi-born player, known for her excellence since the start for her career, was named PCB’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year in 2020 and also became the first Pakistan women cricketer to win the ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year in 2021.

Fatima Sana said: “It is an honour to lead the Pakistan women’s side in ODIs, although the circumstances are unfortunate with Nida Dar’s injury. She has been an inspiration, and I wish her a speedy recovery.

“We had a historic T20I series win against New Zealand, and I know the players are eager to perform well in the ODI series too. Although we didn’t have a good outing in the first ODI, we are all geared up to excel in tomorrow’s game.”

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Pakistan women’s team will be targeting a good display in the ACC Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup as they begin their journey in the eight-team tournament against Nepal at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Hong Kong on Tuesday.

Fatima Sana will be leading the side in the T20 tournament, which began today.

Pakistan are slotted in Group A with Hong Kong, India A and Nepal. After tomorrow’s game, Pakistan will play hosts Hong Kong and India A on 15 and 17 June, respectively.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals which will be played on 19 June. The final of the tournament will be held on 21 June.

In the last edition of the ACC Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2019, which was held in Sri Lanka, Pakistan remained winless in the four-team competition.

Captain and right-arm fast Fatima, leg-spinners Tuba Hassan and Syeda Aroob Shah and wicketkeeper-batter Najiha Alvi featured in the 2019 edition.

Six players apart from captain Fatima (31 ODIs, 24 T20Is) have already represented Pakistan women’s team in international cricket.

These include Gull Feroza (2 T20Is), Natalia Parvaiz (3 ODIs, 11 T20Is), Sadaf Shamas (4 ODIs, 2 T20Is), Syeda Aroob Shah (2 ODIs, 5T20Is), Tuba Hassan (1 ODI, 21 T20Is) and Umm-e-Hani (1 ODI).

Other than Aroob, three players – Anoosha Nasir, Eyman Fatima and Shawaal Zulfiqar – have represented Pakistan U19 in the inaugural edition of ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in January this year in South Africa.

Before the 15-day camp in Karachi, the players also represented Strikers in the first phase of the Pakistan Cup Women’s Cricket Tournament held in Karachi last month, where the team under the leadership of Fatima won all three matches.

Speaking on the eve of the ACC Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, Fatima Sana revealed that the roles have been defined for each player before emphasizing the importance of team effort.

“We have worked hard in our preparations, and the roles have been clearly defined to each player. Now is the time for them to step up and deliver their best for the team.

“While individual brilliance can make a difference, I believe in the strength of our team. We have a talented group of players, and I don’t want to rely solely on one individual. It’s crucial for every player to contribute to the team’s success. I have faith that each member will give their all and collectively, we will achieve great results.

“Tournaments like these provide a fantastic platform for our young players to showcase their skills and potentially earn a place in the senior side internationally. It’s a golden opportunity for them, and I believe they will grab it both hands.”

Squad: Fatima Sana (c), Anoosha Nasir, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Gulrukh, Lubna Behram, Najiha Alvi (wk), Natalia Parvaiz, Sadaf Shamas, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani and Yusra Amir. Reserves: Amber Kainat, Dua Majid, Fatima Khan and Rameen Shamim.

Player support personnel: Aisha Jalil (manager), Mohsin Kamal (head coach), Muhammad Kamran Hussain (assistant coach), Muhammad Usman Shahid (analyst) and Rabia Siddiq (physiotherapist).

ACC Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup Pakistan fixtures

13 June v Nepal at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground, Hong Kong, 0600 PKT
15 June v Hong Kong at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground, Hong Kong, 0600 PKT
17 June v India A at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground, Hong Kong, 1030 PKT

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Fatima Sana-led Pakistan team will depart later tonight from Karachi for Hong Kong via Dubai to feature in the eight-team ACC Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup.

The T20 tournament will be played from 12 to 21 June at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground in Hong Kong.

Pakistan are slotted in Group A with Hong Kong, India A and Nepal. Pakistan will open their campaign on 13 June with the match against Nepal, after which they play Hong Kong and India A on 15 and 17 June, respectively.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals which will be played on 19 June. The final of the tournament will be held on 21 June.

Before the team’s departure, the 14-member squad along with four reserve players took part in the 15-day camp, which was held at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre in Karachi.

The players under the supervision of the coaching staff worked on various aspects of T20 cricket including improvised drills, nets sessions and scenario-based matches.

Before the camp, the players also featured for Strikers in the first phase of the Pakistan Cup Women’s Cricket Tournament held in Karachi last month.

Six players apart from captain Fatima Sana have already represented Pakistan women’s team in international cricket.

These include Gull Feroza (2 T20Is), Natalia Parvaiz (3 ODIs, 11 T20Is), Sadaf Shamas (4 ODIs, 2 T20Is), Syeda Aroob Shah (2 ODIs, 5T20Is), Tuba Hassan (1 ODI, 21 T20Is) and Umm-e-Hani (1 ODI).

Other than Aroob, three players – Anoosha Nasir, Eyman Fatima and Shawaal Zulfiqar have represented Pakistan U19 in the inaugural edition of ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in January this year in South Africa.

Speaking ahead of the team’s departure for the Women’s Emerging Asia Cup, Fatima Sana asserted that the squad had a good time preparing in the training camp here and is expecting the players to emulate the same in the tournament.

“Our training camp in Karachi has laid a strong foundation for our journey in the ACC Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup. I expect each player to carry the learnings from the camp and showcase their skills with confidence in the tournament.

“In Group A, we have formidable opponents in Nepal, hosts Hong Kong, and India A. I expect our players to approach each match with determination, resilience, and a never-give-up attitude.”

Squad: Fatima Sana (c), Anoosha Nasir, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Gulrukh, Lubna Behram, Najiha Alvi (wk), Natalia Parvaiz, Sadaf Shamas, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani and Yusra Amir. Reserves: Amber Kainat, Dua Majid, Fatima Khan and Rameen Shamim

Player support personnel: Aisha Jalil (manager), Mohsin Kamal (head coach), Muhammad Kamran Hussain (assistant coach), Muhammad Usman Shahid (analyst) and Rabia Siddiq (physiotherapist).

ACC Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup Pakistan fixtures

13 June v Nepal at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground, Hong Kong, 0600 PKT
15 June v Hong Kong at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground, Hong Kong, 0600 PKT
17 June v India A at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground, Hong Kong, 1030 PKT

As Pakistan Women’s team kicks off its ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign on Sunday, pacer Fatima Sana has expressed her excitement about leading the Green Shirt’s bowling attack against the arch-rivals India, that too on her World Cup debut. 

“I am very excited to play my first T20I match in the World Cup and lead our bowling attack. Obviously playing against India is a special feeling, but we will take it as a normal game and try to give our best shot in the match. she said in a video shared by the PCB on Saturday.

ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year 2021 Sana has been a mainstay of the national team’s bowling department and will represent Pakistan for the first time in a World Cup.

Bismah Maroof will lead Pakistan in the event for the second time, after captaining the side in the previous edition held in Australia in 2020. She along with opening batter Javeria Khan will be featuring in their eighth edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

A positive outcome in Sunday’s blockbuster clash against India will give Pakistan women’s team perfect momentum for their later matches in Group B and bolster their chances to qualify for the tournament’s semifinal for the very first time.

The World Cup provides veteran all-rounder Nida Dar an opportunity to become the highest wicket-taker in this format in women’s cricket as requires only five more wickets to go past West Indies’ Anisa Mohammad’s tally of 125 wickets.

“I don’t want to take any extra pressure on the record coming my way of becoming the highest wicket-taker in the T20I format. I just love playing this game and I just want to enjoy the moment and give my best for the team.” told Dar to PCB Digital.

Talking about the hype of the India-Pakistan contest, Dar said: “(It) is such that it does not require any Sunday, fans will be there to witness the contest any day provided the two sides are playing against each other. It is all about controlling the nerves, it is also exciting to play such matches as people watch you play.”

Pakistan squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup:

Bismah Maroof (c), Aimen Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Naseem, Fatima Sana, Javeria Khan, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nashra Sandhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wk) and Tuba Hassan

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SYDNEY: Young Pakistan all-rounder Fatima Sana looked nervous to have a word with her childhood inspiration and one of the greatest female cricketers Ellyse Perry. 

In a video posted by Australia Women’s Cricket team, Sana can be seen requesting Jessica Jonassen to introduce her to Perry after the final ODI of the series between the two sides.

“Can I talk to Perry?” asked Sana to Jonassen who was standing with a few other teammates.

Not long after an impressive display with the ball, @TheRealPCB young gun Fatima Sana was very keen to meet her childhood hero Ellyse Perry! #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/dPtQQSDCy7

— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) January 21, 2023

In reply, Jonassen told Sana that she could approach Perry directly while being empathetic to her hesitation.

“Do you look up to Ellyse?” she asked Sana. ” Yes I was 11 when she was winning the World Cup” Sana replied.

Perry, widely regarded as one of the prolific sportswomen, played a vital role in all of Australia’s four World Cup victories between 2010 and 2014, though she will forever be remembered for the 2013 Women’s World Cup final against West Indies, when, barely able to walk, she limped in to bowl 10 overs and took 3 for 19.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan’s women’s cricket team are currently on a tour to Australia for three ODIs and as many T20Is. After the series whitewash in ODIs, the Green Shirts will play their first T20 game on Tuesday.

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LAHORE: Young Pakistan pacer Fatima Sana claimed not having the access to pure food while drawing the comparison between the fitness of the national team’s players and that of the overseas cricketers.

On the sidelines of the national team’s training camp for the forthcoming home series against Sri Lanka, the 20-year-old pacer complained about not having access to pure food and a suitable diet when remarking on the team’s fitness issues.

“The key difference between us and the overseas cricketers is the fitness and we need to work on that,” Fatima said.

“The overseas cricketers have a good diet, whereas, we do not have the access to pure foods like fruits and vegetables here. It’s not like we eat spicy cuisines and Biryani. I think they got pure food unlike us,” she maintained.

Speaking on her participation in a women’s cricket League Fair Break, the young pacer claimed to have learned a lot by playing alongside the overseas cricketers in the league.

“There was a lot to learn from playing in the tournament [Fair Break] in Dubai. We got the opportunity to play with foreign players and I think it is beneficial for us,” she stated.

Fatima then shared her goal to become an economical bowler and to win the matches for her team.

“I am trying to become an economical bowler and try to make the team win with my performances,” Fatima said.

The ICC Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year 2021 also backed the decision of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of hosting the home series against Sri Lanka without the COVID-19 SoPs and biosecure bubble.

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KARACHI: Young Pakistan pacer Fatima Sana, who was named as the Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year 2021 by the International Cricket Council (ICC) has received her glittering trophy.

Fatima, who was adjudged as the Women’s Emerging Cricketer following her brilliant all-round performances last year; impressing with both bat and ball.

The right-arm pacer bagged 24 wickets at an average of 23.95. Whereas, also scored 165 runs at an average of 16.50 in 16 international matches.

Taking to Twitter, Fatima shared the picture of herself posing with the glittering trophy and also termed it as an honour to receive the prestigious trophy.

“Alhumdullilah! It’s an absolute honor to receive the trophy of ICC Women’s Emerging Cricketer Of The Year,” she wrote.

Alhumdullilah ❤️
It’s an absolute honor to receive the trophy of @ICC Women's Emerging Cricketer Of The Year.

Onwards and upwards InshaAllah🤞🏼
Pakistan Zindabad 🇵🇰#iccawards2021 #icc #emergingcricketer #pcb #blessed pic.twitter.com/TPTtDiIp6p

— Fatima Sana Khan (@imfatimasana) April 7, 2022

It is apropos to mention here that Pakistani cricketers ruled the ICC Awards for the year 2021 as Shaheen was named ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year, Babar was named ODI Cricketer, while Rizwan was named T20I Cricketer of the Year award.

The trio has already received their respective trophies during the historic Test series against Australia.

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DUBAI: Pakistan’s pace bowler Fatima Sana has been included in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Team of 2021. 

Led by England’s Heather Knight, the team includes players from Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan, and West Indies.

ICC Women’s Team of 2021

Lizelle Lee (South Africa), Alyssa Healy (wk) (Australia), Tammy Beaumont (England), Mithali Raj (India), Heather Knight (c) (England), Marizanne Kapp (South Africa), Hayley Matthews (West Indies), Fatima Sana (Pakistan), Jhulan Goswami (India), Shabnim Ismail (South Africa), Anisa Mohammed (West Indies)

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