Pakistan women’s cricket captain Fatima Sana has publicly advocated for structural parity between male and female players, urging fans to fill venues for women’s fixtures just as they do for men’s games.
Speaking on Tuesday, the 25-year-old all-rounder expressed her hope for significant reform in how the women’s game is supported domestically. She explained that she dreams of a time when both national teams share equal status, adding, “I hope it comes.”
Sana, who took charge of the national team in 2024, has rapidly established herself among the game’s top players. She currently holds the world record for the fastest international half-century in women’s T20 cricket and previously skippered Pakistan to a bronze medal at the 2026 Asian Games held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Sana, who holds the world record for the fastest international 50 in women’s T20 cricket, led Pakistan to a bronze medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Her comments followed a six-wicket victory for her Australian franchise, Perth Scorchers, against Melbourne Stars in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL). Addresssing the sport’s global evolution during an interview with digital outlet CricBlog TV, she observed that cricket is expanding globally and expressed a desire to see equivalent growth within Pakistan’s domestic men’s and women’s structures.
The right-arm medium-fast bowler is only the second female cricketer from Pakistan to participate in the WBBL, following former skipper Nida Dar, who represented Sydney Thunder in 2019. Sana noted the stark contrast in fan engagement, remarking, “The way the crowds turn up for men’s matches, I hope the same happens for the women’s matches.”
Since making her WBBL debut on October 31, Sana has claimed five wickets across five matches while maintaining an economy rate of 7.62 runs per over, placing her joint-10th on the tournament’s top wicket-takers list. The campaign represents her second stint in an overseas league, following her prior appearance for Birmingham Phoenix in England’s The Hundred.
At Perth Scorchers, Sana shares a dressing room with prominent international figures, including former New Zealand captain Sophie Devine and Australian batter Beth Mooney. Describing her experience in Australia as an honor, she highlighted the supportive atmosphere among her teammates and expressed hope that more Pakistani cricketers will secure contracts abroad to help raise standards back home. It’s great to play alongside my teammates; they’re very supportive and helpful,” Sana said. “It is an honour to come here and have the opportunity to play [in Australia].
Looking ahead, Pakistan is scheduled to host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2028. The tournament will mark the first time the country hosts an ICC women’s event, having previously staged two ICC Men’s ODI World Cups and the 2025 ICC Men’s Champions Trophy. The 2028 edition will also expand to 12 participating teams, up from the 10 featured in the previous six iterations.
Sana voiced confidence that hosting the tournament will inspire broader participation across the nation. She described the ICC’s hosting decision as a major positive step, noting that seeing live World Cup matches at home will encourage parents to provide young girls with greater opportunities to pursue the sport.
