Fatima Sana signs for Perth Scorchers in the Women's Big Bash

Pakistan women’s captain Fatima Sana has signed a one-year contract with Perth Scorchers for the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), becoming only the second Pakistani to play in Australia’s top women’s competition.

The 24-year-old all-rounder will be available for the Scorchers’ first eight matches of WBBL 12, which starts on October 29, the club announced on Saturday, Dawn reported.

Her stay could be extended if the Pakistan Cricket Board allows her to miss a training camp before Pakistan’s expected tour of the West Indies in December.

“A dream come true”

“I’ve watched the WBBL from Pakistan and always wondered what it would feel like to be part of this great competition,” Fatima said.

“To now wear the Scorchers colours, represent such a great club and walk out at the WACA Ground in front of members and fans, while being cheered on by people back home, is incredibly special. This really is a dream come true.”

Scorchers general manager Kade Harvey called her “one of the most exciting young allrounders in world cricket”.

Following Nida Dar

Former captain Nida Dar was the first Pakistani in the WBBL, playing 11 matches for Sydney Thunder in 2019. The Scorchers deal is Fatima’s second overseas league this year, after playing for Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred.

A right-arm medium-fast bowler and middle-order batter, Fatima made her international debut in 2019 and has played more than 130 white-ball matches for Pakistan. This year she set the record for the fastest half-century in women’s T20 internationals, reaching 50 in 15 balls against Zimbabwe. She also led Pakistan’s delegation at the Asian Games opening ceremony in Japan.

Kainat Imtiaz retires

On the same weekend, fast bowler Kainat Imtiaz announced her retirement from international cricket after a 13-year career, The Express Tribune reported.

The 34-year-old right-arm pacer:

• Played 19 ODIs and 21 T20 internationals
• Debuted in T20Is against South Africa in Potchefstroom in October 2010
• Won Asian Games gold with Pakistan in 2010 in China and 2014 in South Korea
• Played four matches at the 2017 Women’s World Cup and at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
• Bowed out of ODIs against Australia at the Gabba in January 2023

She began with the Karachi Schools Under-17 team in 2007, and has already started a new career as a match referee, officiating at the PCB National Women’s Under-19 T20 tournament this summer.

A cricketing family

Cricket runs in the family. Her mother, Saleema Imtiaz, became Pakistan’s first woman umpire on the ICC’s International Development Panel in 2024, and has since officiated nine women’s ODIs and 69 women’s T20 internationals.

Why it matters

One of the pioneers of Pakistan women’s cricket steps away as its brightest star moves onto a bigger stage. Fatima’s move to the WBBL shows how far Pakistan’s women have come, and the path players like Kainat helped open. Read our report on the men’s Asian Games cricket silver.

This article draws on reporting by Dawn and The Express Tribune.