Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana was struck on her knee during the pre-match training session, a day before her team is supposed to face arch-rivals India in their opening game of the T20 World Cup.
Sana was struck on her right shin by a low back-drive from opener Ayesha Zafar during training, with the ball hitting her flush near the knee. In discomfort, she limped off the field with assistance from the team physio and her teammates.
Sana was struck on her follow-through and went down in pain. Physios and teammates rushed to assist her out of the nets and she spent most of the remainder of the session on the sidelines with an ice pack strapped to her right knee.
Sana didn’t come back for the remainder of the session and the Pakistan team management
was tight-lipped over her injury status.
Around 45 minutes later, Sana was back on her feet and made her way to the main ground. Much to Pakistan’s relief, she later confirmed at the pre-match press conference that the blow wasn’t serious and that she would be available for Sunday’s clash.
“It was just a normal shot from Ayesha and I was hit below the knee. But I think it is good now,” Sana said while speaking to the media.
Apart from spearheading the pace attack, Sana has also emerged as one of Pakistan’s most destructive batters. Since the last World Cup, she has scored at a strike rate of 183, highlighted by a 15-ball fifty, the fastest in Women’s T20I history and a blistering 90 off 41 deliveries against South Africa in Potchefstroom.
Sana also played a pivotal all-round role in Pakistan’s win against South Africa in Benoni earlier this year. Given her impact with both bat and ball, her fitness could prove crucial to Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign.
