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Not Rizwan! PAK Skipper Picks MS Dhoni As Her Inspiration To Lead In Women's World Cup 2025

Soumyajit Dutta

Fatima Sana and MS Dhoni [Source: @SahityaSagar_/X.com]Fatima Sana and MS Dhoni [Source: @SahityaSagar_/X.com]

With the Women’s ODI World Cup less than a month away, teams are fine-tuning their preparations for the prestigious tournament in India and Sri Lanka. Among the hopefuls is Pakistan, a team aiming to punch above its weight and make a deep run in the competition. Under the leadership of captain Fatima Sana, the side is looking to produce a campaign that will make their nation proud.

Sana is drawing inspiration from a legendary figure who mastered the art of winning in subcontinental conditions. She revealed that she is looking to emulate the calm and impactful leadership of former India captain MS Dhoni to guide her team through the high-pressure tournament.

Fatima Sana's Big Claim On India Great!

Fatima Sana revealed that she has learnt a lot from her inspiration, MS Dhoni and would like to emulate his style as she also observed him closely while watching him play and lead.

“It is natural to be a little nervous initially when captaining in a big tournament like the World Cup, but I take inspiration from Mahendra Singh Dhoni as a captain,” said Sana in an interview with PTI.


“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 Dhoni. I also watched his interviews and got to learn a lot,” Sana added.

Sana Aims For The Semi-Final?

The Pakistan captain has set a clear and ambitious goal for her team: breaking the knockout-stage jinx. She believes the current young squad understands the significance of a strong performance for the future of women's cricket in Pakistan.

“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,” she said.

While acknowledging the growth of the women's game in Pakistan, Sana admitted that a successful World Cup is crucial for it to truly capture the public's imagination. She sees the tournament as the perfect platform to break down the remaining barriers.

Sana highlighted the positive changes in the country’s cricket landscape, noting that more girls are now playing cricket in schools, and international matches are being broadcast live. 

She praised the ICC’s step of increasing the Women’s World Cup prize money, calling it a big motivation for young players in Pakistan as the team is looking forward to more such opportunities.