Pakistan women's cricket team's captain Fatima Sana is scheduled to depart from Dubai following the death of her father in Karachi on Thursday, October 10. She most likely will not be there for Pakistan's Women's T20 World Cup 2024 group match on Thursday, October 10 at Dubai International Stadium against Australia. They will be led by wicketkeeper-batter Muneeba Ali Siddiqui in her stead.
If Fatima is unable to return in time for Monday, October 14th's game against Sophie Devine's New Zealand, Muneeba will also fill in for her. Following the passing of Fatima's father, Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), expressed his sorrow.
Big blow to Pakistan
Pakistan, who still have a chance to advance to the semi-finals, will suffer greatly from Fatima's absence. With 43 runs at an average of 21.50, Fatima is the only batter on her side to play at a strike rate of over 100 in the tournament (153.57). The absence of Fatima indicates a further depletion of Pakistan's pace-bowling reserves. Prior to the match against India, their star bowler Diana Baig had a calf injury and was unable to play.
With four wickets, Fatima is also Pakistan's joint greatest wicket-taker, tied with left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal, who momentarily topped the Women's T20Is bowling rankings. After Meg Lanning and Stafanie Taylor, Fatima became the third-youngest captain of a side in the Women's T20 World Cup.
Pakistan has won one of their last two games to move up to second place in Group A with two points and a net run rate of +0.555. They defeated Chamari Athapaththu's Sri Lankan team by 31 runs to begin the match, and Fatima was named Player of the Match. However, Pakistan suffered their first loss when India defeated them in Dubai on Sunday by six wickets. Despite taking two wickets and scoring a rapid 13 runs, Fatima's efforts were in vain.
