Pakistan women’s captain Fatima Sana has pressed for the women’s and men’s national teams to be placed on equal footing, and she has urged cricket fans to turn out in large numbers for women’s tournaments. The 25-year-old said on Tuesday that she hopes to see the women’s side treated as the equal of the men’s. “I hope it comes,” she said.
Sana, who has led Pakistan since 2024, is among the country’s most accomplished cricketers and has quickly risen to the top of the women’s game. The all-rounder is currently playing for the Perth Scorchers in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia, one of the strongest women’s competitions in the world.
Sana’s appeal for crowds and growth in Pakistan
After her side beat Melbourne Stars by six wickets on Sunday, Sana was asked about the state of women’s cricket in Pakistan. Speaking to a digital cricket news platform, she said the sport is expanding globally. She added that she would like to see the same growth at home, in both the men’s and women’s game.
Sana also said she hopes crowds at women’s matches will match those seen at men’s fixtures. “The way the crowds turn up for men’s matches, I hope the same happens for the women’s matches,” she added.
Sana’s WBBL campaign with the Perth Scorchers
The right-arm medium-fast bowler is only the second Pakistani player to feature in the WBBL, after former captain Nida Dar, who played for Sydney Thunder in 2019. Sana made her debut on October 31 and has taken five wickets in five matches, with an economy of 7.62 runs per over. Those figures place her joint-10th on the competition’s most-wickets chart.
This is only the second overseas league of her career, following a spell with Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred in England. Sana holds the world record for the fastest international 50 in women’s T20 cricket. She also led Pakistan to a bronze medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Sana described playing in Australia as an honour and praised her teammates for being supportive and helpful. At the Perth Scorchers she shares a dressing room with leading players, including former New Zealand captain Sophie Devine and Australia batter Beth Mooney. She also hopes more girls from Pakistan will come and play in Australia so that the game can grow back home.
Pakistan to host 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup
Pakistan will host the 2028 women’s T20 World Cup, which will be the first edition to feature 12 teams, up from 10 in the previous six editions. It will also be the first ICC women’s event staged in Pakistan, a country that has previously hosted two ICC Men’s ODI World Cups and the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy in 2025.
Sana believes the tournament could help boost women’s participation in the cricket-mad South Asian nation. She called the ICC’s decision to stage the event in Pakistan a great step that will encourage more women players to come forward. “When more girls watch the World Cup at home, their parents will also offer them more opportunities to play the sport.”
