Pakistan captain Fatima Sana injured her right knee during a training session ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. Her availability against India remains uncertain.
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana suffered a scare ahead of her team’s opening match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 after sustaining a right knee injury during a practice session in Birmingham on Saturday.
The incident occurred in the nets when Sana was struck on her follow-through by a straight drive from teammate Ayesha Zafar. The Pakistan skipper immediately fell to the ground in visible pain, raising concerns among team management and supporters just days before the high-profile clash against India at Edgbaston.
Team physiotherapists and fellow players rushed to assist Sana, who was helped out of the nets and spent the remainder of the session on the sidelines with an ice pack applied to her right knee. She did not take any further part in training, prompting fears over her fitness for Pakistan’s World Cup opener.
However, there was some positive news later in the day. Around 45 minutes after the incident, Sana was seen walking without any noticeable discomfort as she made her way to the main ground. Speaking briefly about the injury, the Pakistan captain appeared optimistic about her recovery.
“It was just a normal hit of the ball. Ayesha baaji played the shot and hit me on the knee. I think it’s good now. Hopefully, I’ll be good tomorrow,” Sana said.
Sana’s fitness is a major concern for Pakistan, given her importance to the side as both captain and one of their leading performers. While she spearheads the team’s pace attack, she has also emerged as a crucial batter in recent years.
Since the last Women’s T20 World Cup, Sana has scored at an impressive strike rate of 183.06. Her batting exploits include a blistering 15-ball half-century, one of the fastest in Women’s T20 International history, and a remarkable 90 off 41 balls against South Africa in Potchefstroom.
The all-rounder also played a match-winning role during Pakistan’s victory over South Africa in Benoni earlier this year, producing a brilliant performance with both bat and ball. She scored 47 runs from just 30 deliveries and followed it up with bowling figures of 2 for 12.
With Pakistan preparing for a crucial campaign in the Women’s T20 World Cup, the team will be hoping their captain recovers quickly. Her presence could be vital as Pakistan look to make a strong start against arch-rivals India in one of the tournament’s most anticipated fixtures.