As Pakistan gears up for the Women’s World Cup later this month, skipper Fatima Sana has her eyes set on emulating one of cricket’s most admired leaders – India’s World Cup-winning captain MS Dhoni. Known worldwide as “Captain Cool,” Dhoni’s calm style of leadership has become Fatima’s biggest inspiration as she prepares to guide her team in the 50-over World Cup.
The tournament begins on September 30, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Under an agreement between the BCCI and PCB, Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka. Their campaign kicks off against Bangladesh on October 2 in Colombo.
Fatima Sana Wants to Be Pakistan’s “Captain Cool” Inspired by MS Dhoni
“It is natural to be a little nervous initially when captaining in a big tournament like the World Cup, but I take inspiration from Mahendra Singh Dhoni as a captain,” Fatima Sana told PTI Bhasha in an interview.
“I have seen his matches as India and CSK captain. His on-field decision-making, calmness and the way he backs his players, there is a lot to learn from that. When I got the captaincy, I thought that I have to become like Dhoni. I also watched his interviews and got to learn a lot,” she added.
Dhoni retired in 2020, but his influence clearly continues. Fatima Sana, who made her ODI debut in 2019, sees his leadership as a model for her own journey.
Breaking Old Records
Pakistan’s history in the Women’s ODI World Cup hasn’t been easy. The team has featured in five editions (1997, 2009, 2013, 2017, and 2022) but went winless in three of them. In 2022, their only victory came against the West Indies, and they ended up at the bottom of the table.
This time, Fatima Sana is determined to change that story.
“This time, the jinx will definitely be broken because the young players know how important this tournament is for Pakistan women’s cricket. We will not think about the past. My goal is to take the team to the semifinals,” she said confidently.
More Girls Picking Up the Game
Fatima Sana believes that women’s cricket in Pakistan is slowly gaining momentum.
“In Pakistan, girls have started playing cricket in schools and international matches are being telecast live. ICC has also taken a good initiative by increasing the prize money for the Women’s World Cup, which will inspire budding players in Pakistan. But there is still a barrier which we have to break through this tournament,” she explained.
“In our country, women’s cricket is not seen as a career option. But if we play well, it will make a huge difference. Our effort will be to inspire parents in Pakistan to encourage their girls to make a career in sports.”
Bowling as the Trump Card
When asked about the team’s strengths, Fatima Sana was clear:
“We have top-class bowlers in the team and spinners will be our trump card. We will depend more on bowling than batting but in the last one year, we have worked a lot on batting and we will get results.”
The team is also focusing on carrying forward the momentum from the qualifiers. A three-match series against South Africa before the World Cup is expected to help them finalize their combination.
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“The team is in good rhythm and after the good performance in the qualifiers, everyone’s morale is high. More or less the same players are in the team who played in the qualifiers. This is the first World Cup for six players and they are very excited.”
Tough Competition Ahead
Fatima knows the competition will be fierce, especially from Australia.
“My favourite team is Australia. It is difficult to predict the semifinalists but India’s performance has been very good in the last few years. They have very experienced players like Jemimah (Rodrigues), Smriti (Mandhana) and Harmanpreet (Kaur) but we will not focus on any one player.”
She also shared her thoughts about the hosts:
“India have never won the World Cup and being the host, there will be pressure to win. But along with this, the presence of home fans also boosts the morale. It depends on the team how it takes it.”
Cricket, Family, and Inspiration
Fatima’s love for cricket began with street games in Karachi, playing alongside her brothers when she was just 11. She also admires Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry, one of the most respected names in women’s cricket.
Her journey hasn’t been without challenges. During last year’s T20 World Cup, she lost her father but chose to stay with the team and continue playing – a moment that showed her courage and determination.
“My father dreamed of watching me play in the World Cup. I went back to play to fulfil his wish. I knew that Virat also did the same,” she said, recalling how Virat Kohli once played a Ranji Trophy match just a day after his father’s passing.
Fatima’s resilience also echoes the spirit of Sachin Tendulkar, who returned to the 1999 World Cup after losing his father.
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