News by “Sana Ullah“
Nida Dar ruled out; Fatima Sana to lead in second ODI
Christchurch, 14 December 2023:
Fatima Sana will take over the captaincy of the Pakistan women’s team for the second ODI against New Zealand, replacing Nida Dar who is ruled out due to a facial injury sustained during the first match
Nida is the third player from the 17-member squad selected for the New Zealand series to get injured on the tour. Earlier, Shawaal Zulfiqar (second T20I) and Diana Baig (one day before first ODI) got injured and were ruled from the remaining matches on the tour. Under Nida’s leadership, Pakistan became the first Asian country to beat White Ferns in T20I series in their own backyard, while right-handed batter Shawaal’s 41 off 42 balls, which included seven fours, was the highest score from the winning side in the first T20I. Diana, with her right-arm fast bowling, has bowled well in the powerplay in T20Is.
Nida, the regular captain, led the side in the first ODI at the John Davies Oval in Queenstown on Tuesday. However, she was struck by a ball on her own bowling in the 44th over of the innings. Nida was subsequently taken off the field due to the impact and Fatima was named the stand-in captain. Following assessment by doctor today, Nida has been reported to have symptoms of concussion. She has been advised for a complete rest for next two days.
- Fatima Sana becomes the 10th captain of the Pakistan women’s ODI team.
- Nida Dar ruled out due to a concussion sustained in the first ODI.
- Fatima Sana named player of the series in the recent T20I series against New Zealand.
Details:
- Nida Dar sustained a facial injury while bowling in the 44th over of the first ODI.
- She was taken off the field and assessed by a doctor, who diagnosed her with a concussion.
- Nida has been advised to rest for the next two days.
- Her availability for the third ODI is uncertain.
About Fatima Sana:
- Aged 22, Fatima Sana will become the 10th captain of the Pakistan women’s ODI team.
- She impressed in the recent T20I series against New Zealand, earning the player of the series award with six wickets at an impressive economy rate.
- Fatima has captained PCB Blasters to victory in the T20 Women’s Cricket Tournament.
- She was previously named PCB’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year (2020) and ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year (2021).
Fatima Sana’s statement:
- “It is an honor to lead the Pakistan women’s side in ODIs, although the circumstances are unfortunate with Nida Dar’s injury.”
- “She has been an inspiration, and I wish her a speedy recovery.”
- “We had a historic T20I series win against New Zealand, and I know the players are eager to perform well in the ODI series too.”
- “Although we didn’t have a good outing in the first ODI, we are all geared up to excel in tomorrow’s game.”
Injury update on Diana Baig:
Diana Baig Facing Four-Week Recovery After Finger Surgery. Fast bowler Diana Baig, initially ruled out of the ODI series against New Zealand due to a finger injury, has undergone surgery and will be sidelined for four weeks.
The right-arm bowler sustained the injury during a practice session on the eve of the series opener. After undergoing surgery on her index finger of the bowling arm, Diana now faces a four-week recovery period. This means she will be unavailable for any competitive cricket during this time.
Diana’s injury is a significant setback for Pakistan, as she plays a crucial role in their bowling attack. Her absence will be felt throughout the remaining ODI matches against New Zealand.
We wish Diana a speedy recovery and look forward to her return to the field soon.
