Fatima Sana, the captain of the Pakistan women’s cricket team, is returning home to Karachi after the death of her father, according to a PCB media statement. She is scheduled to fly back on Thursday, missing the upcoming match against Australia in Dubai on Friday. Muneeba Ali will take over as captain in Sana’s absence.
Sana’s departure is a significant loss for Pakistan, who are vying for a place in the semi-finals. Currently, the team sits third in Group A, with one win and one loss from their two matches. To keep their hopes alive, they must secure victories in at least one of their remaining matches, including the one against Australia and their final group match against New Zealand on Monday.
At just 22 years old, Sana is the youngest captain at the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. She has played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s campaign thus far, scoring 30 runs and taking two important wickets, including that of Chamari Athapaththu, in their upset win over Sri Lanka, the reigning Asia Cup champions.
In the match against India, Sana’s efforts were crucial in keeping Pakistan competitive. She took back-to-back wickets of Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh, which caused a brief scare for India, helping to protect Pakistan’s net run rate.
Since taking over as captain from Nida Dar, Sana has aimed to shift Pakistan’s approach, focusing on combining data analysis with a more aggressive batting strategy. Her leadership has been instrumental in the team’s development throughout the tournament.
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