Fatima Sana Named Captain of ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2025 Team
On Sunday, Fatima Sana was appointed as the captain of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2025 Team of the Tournament, as announced by the global governing body of the sport. The squad includes players from four different nations, with the Pakistani leader at the forefront, having guided her unbeaten team to victory in the tournament and securing a place in this year’s World Cup.
The ICC highlighted that, “Fatima was a key player for Pakistan throughout the tournament, contributing vital runs late in innings while also delivering important breakthroughs with her fast bowling.” She concluded the event with a total of 103 runs and 12 significant wickets.
The team also features fellow Pakistani players like southpaw opener Muneeba Ali and the left-arm spinning duo of Nashra Sandhu and Sadia Iqbal, along with talents from Bangladesh, the West Indies, and Scotland.
Standout Performers of the Tournament
1. Hayley Matthews (West Indies): Recognized for her outstanding performance, West Indies captain Hayley Matthews showcased exceptional skill with a total of 240 runs and 13 wickets, including a remarkable high score of 114 not out, during the tournament.
2. Muneeba Ali (Pakistan): Muneeba played a crucial role in laying strong foundations for Pakistan, accumulating 223 runs, with her finest performance being a critical 71 runs against Scotland in a wet match, as well as a significant 69 runs against Bangladesh in her team’s final match.
3. Sharmin Akhter (Bangladesh): Known as “Bangladesh’s wall” during the qualifier, Sharmin scored 266 runs, making her the second-highest run-scorer with three fifties, including a stunning 94 not out against Thailand.
4. Kathryn Bryce (Scotland): The player of the tournament, Kathryn Bryce, topped the charts with 293 runs and six wickets, highlighted by her unbeaten 131 during a pivotal game against Ireland.
Key Contributors
5. Nigar Sultana (Bangladesh, wicket-keeper): Nigar had impressive scores of 101, 51, and 83 not out throughout the qualifiers, leading Bangladesh to victory and showcasing her skills behind the stumps as a captain.
6. Fatima Sana (Pakistan, captain): Noteworthy for her performance while injured, Fatima took four wickets for just 23 runs against Scotland and scored a match-winning 62 not out against Thailand.
7. Chinelle Henry (West Indies): ICC stated, “No numbers can do justice to the kind of impact Chinelle Henry had during the tournament,” praising her vital contributions across various matches.
8. Aaliyah Alleyne (West Indies): Aaliyah contributed consistently with a wicket in each game, including her career-best 4-39 against Bangladesh.
9. Katherine Fraser (Scotland): Katherine played a critical role with a valuable 25 not out and made significant contributions with the ball.
10. Nashra Sandhu (Pakistan): As one of Pakistan’s standout bowlers, Nashra took 10 wickets at an average of 15.60 with her left-arm spin, playing a key role in her team’s success.
11. Sadia Iqbal (Pakistan): Partnering with Nashra, Sadia picked up nine wickets, helping to maintain Pakistan’s hold over their opponents during matchups.
