Pakistan women’s cricket team has been dealt a devastating blow with the loss of their captain Fatima Sana’s father. The young leader, currently representing her country in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the UAE, will be returning to Karachi to be with her family during this difficult time.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that Fatima will fly back to Karachi on Thursday to join her grieving family. Her departure comes at a critical juncture for Pakistan, who are gearing up for a crucial match against Australia on Friday in Dubai.

Pakistan’s path to the semi-finals

With Pakistan’s chances of advancing to the semi-finals hanging in the balance, Sana’s absence is a significant blow to the team. Muneeba Ali, one of the more experienced members of the squad, is set to take over captaincy for the upcoming match.

Pakistan must win at least one of their remaining Group A matches, ideally both, to have a realistic chance of making it to the semi-finals. The clash with Australia is particularly vital, and the absence of their captain could complicate their efforts to secure a victory.

Following the match against Australia, Pakistan will face New Zealand on Monday, marking the end of their group stage campaign. Sana’s availability for that match remains uncertain.

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Fatima Sana’s contributions for Pakistan in the global event

Fatima has been a standout player for Pakistan since the start of the Women’s T20 World Cup. Her leadership and skills have been critical to the team’s progress in the tournament. In Pakistan’s opening match, a stunning win over Sri Lanka, Sana contributed 30 valuable runs and took two key wickets, playing a pivotal role in the team’s success.

Despite a narrow loss to India in their second match, Fatima’s performance remained impressive, as she managed to dismiss two of India’s top players, Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma, giving Pakistan a fighting chance in the game.

A testing time for Pakistan women’s cricket team

As Pakistan prepares to face one of the tournament’s toughest teams without their captain, the pressure will be on the remaining players to step up and deliver. Muneeba’s experience will be crucial in leading the team, but the absence of Fatima’s leadership and bowling skills will undoubtedly be felt. The team will need to rally around each other, both on and off the field, as they push for a semi-final spot in the face of this emotional and challenging situation.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

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