Pakistan captain Fatima Sana will be returning to Karachi on following the death of her father, according to a PCB media statement. With her departure, Sana is expected to miss Pakistan's next T20 World Cup match against Australia in Dubai on Friday.
Muneeba Ali is set to take over as the stand-in captain in Sana’s absence.
Sana's absence is a significant setback for Pakistan, who must win at least one of their remaining group matches—ideally both—to keep their semi-final hopes alive in a challenging Group A. Pakistan is currently placed third in the group, with a win and a loss from their two games. After the Australia match, they will face New Zealand on Monday in Dubai to complete their league stage.
At just 22 years old, Sana is the youngest captain in the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup and has been a key player in Pakistan’s campaign. She top-scored with 30 runs and claimed two vital wickets, including that of Chamari Athapaththu, in their opening victory over Sri Lanka. In the match against India, her consecutive dismissals of Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh caused brief concerns for India and helped Pakistan avoid a significant drop in net run rate.
Since taking over from Nida Dar as captain, Sana has been focused on shifting Pakistan’s strategy, emphasising a data-driven approach alongside a more aggressive batting style.