Pakistan’s Captain Nominated for ICC Player of the Month Award

ISLAMABAD: Fatima Sana’s rise in international women’s cricket has been steadily gathering momentum, and April 2025 may well go down as her defining breakthrough. The Pakistan captain has been shortlisted for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award following a dominant all-round showing in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier—a tournament Pakistan stormed through undefeated on home soil under her guidance.

At just 23, Fatima led from the front with the ball and added vital lower-order runs with the bat, all while bearing the weight of captaincy in a pressure-packed qualifying campaign. Her figures speak for themselves: 12 wickets in five matches, making her Pakistan’s top wicket-taker, all at a miserly economy rate of 3.97.

But her performance went beyond just numbers. In high-stakes games, Fatima Sana was her team’s guiding light in troubling times. Against Scotland, one of the stronger opponents in the competition, Fatima Sana returned her best figures of the tournament—4 for 23—dismantling the middle order with skill and discipline. Her spell not only swung momentum Pakistan’s way but also served notice to the rest of the field.

And just when it looked like her work with the ball had done enough, Fatima Sana delivered with the bat. Her unbeaten 62 against Thailand in a tense chase highlighted the all-round value she brings to this Pakistan side. It wasn’t just a match-winning knock—it was a captain’s innings: calculated, composed, and controlled, coming at a moment when calm heads were needed.

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Although Fatima Sana should be the favorite for the honor, her competition for the award is stiff: Scotland’s Kathryn Bryce and West Indies’ Hayley Matthews were both prolific as well. Bryce led the run charts and was named Player of the Tournament, while Matthews dazzled with 240 explosive runs and a tournament-leading 13 wickets. But while others stuttered, it was Fatima Sana’s team going five for five in the tournament.

And that’s what makes Fatima Sana’s nomination special. She’s not just a contender for the ICC Player of the Month; she’s become a cornerstone of Pakistan women’s cricket, spearheading a new era of confidence, composure, and consistency. In a system long searching for steady leadership and match-winning skills, Fatima Sana is showing she might just be the long-term answer.