Pakistan women’s captain Fatima Sana revealed that MS Dhoni’s leadership and calm on-field decision-making inspired her approach as she aims to make a mark in the Women’s World Cup in the subcontinent.
Pakistan Captain Fatima Sana Draws Inspiration from MS Dhoni Ahead of Women’s ODI World Cup
With less than a month to go before the Women’s ODI World Cup begins in India and Sri Lanka at the end of September, teams worldwide are ramping up preparations for the coveted trophy.
Pakistan is among the hopefuls aiming to make a mark, with their matches scheduled in Colombo. While the odds of lifting the trophy may be slim, the team’s goal is to progress as far as possible and deliver performances that fans back home can celebrate.
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana is taking cues from one of cricket’s most successful leaders. Speaking to PTI, she said MS Dhoni’s leadership serves as a key inspiration for her own captaincy.
“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 MS Dhoni. I also watched his interviews and got to learn a lot,” she added.
‘Still a barrier we have to break through…’
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana has set her sights on taking her team to the semifinals of the Women’s ODI World Cup, aiming to punch above their weight. She expressed confidence that this squad, with its young players, could break the nation’s long-standing ‘jinx’ in major tournaments.
“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,” Sana said.
While women’s cricket is growing in Pakistan, Sana acknowledged that a successful World Cup performance is crucial to gaining wider recognition.