Pakistan’s women’s cricket captain, Fatima Sana, has signed with the Perth Scorchers for the upcoming Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) season, beginning on 29 October. This marks her first venture into the WBBL arena.
Currently slated to participate in the Scorchers’ opening eight matches, Sana’s stay might be extended, contingent on receiving consent to skip a training camp with her national team, Pakistan, ahead of their West Indies tour. Although Cricket West Indies has not yet officially confirmed the tour dates, it is anticipated to commence in the second week of December.
In a statement released by the Scorchers, Sana expressed her excitement: “I’ve watched the WBBL from Pakistan and always wondered what it would feel like to be part of this great competition. To now wear the Scorchers colours, represent such a great club and walk out at the WACA Ground in front of members and fans, while being cheered on by people back home, is incredibly special. This really is a dream come true.”
Only the second Pakistani cricketer to participate in the WBBL, following Nida Dar’s 2019 stint with Sydney Thunder, Sana is no stranger to international T20 leagues. Earlier this year, she became the first Pakistani woman to feature in The Hundred, playing for Birmingham Phoenix, and has also appeared in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and New Zealand’s Super Smash.
At 24, Sana has established herself as arguably Pakistan’s most imposing woman cricketer, boasting impressive stats for the year: 31 wickets in 20 innings with an economy rate of 7.35, and 540 runs at a strike rate of 149.58. At the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, she was Pakistan’s leading bowler, claiming 11 wickets at an economy of 6.95, sharing the spotlight with Australia’s Sophie Molineux among the top wicket-takers, while N Shree Charani led the tally with 14.
The Perth Scorchers will kick off their WBBL campaign with a home match against Melbourne Renegades at the WACA Ground. As fans eagerly watch her journey down under, many will be hoping Sana’s presence will be a dynamic addition to the team.
