Nida Dar, the captain of Pakistan, will not play in the second women’s ODI against New Zealand because she has concussion symptoms after suffering a facial injury in the previous match. Pakistan’s fast bowler Fatima Sana, 22, will lead the team on Friday; Dar’s availability for the third game is yet unknown.
The shot struck Sophie Devine in the face while Dar was bowling the second ball of her seventh over, the 44th of the New Zealand batting in the opening ODI. Prior to being removed off the field, she received medical assistance, and it has been recommended that she rest for the next two days.
On Friday, Sana will take the field for the first time as captain in Christchurch. She captained Pakistan to the semi-finals of the ACC Women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup in June. Fatima guided PCB Blasters to victory in the T20 Women’s Cricket Tournament in domestic cricket.
“It is an honour to lead the Pakistan women’s side in ODIs, although the circumstances are unfortunate with Nida Dar’s injury,” Fatima stated in a press release. “She has inspired me, and I hope she heals quickly.
“We defeated New Zealand in a historic T20I series, and I have no doubt that the players will want to win the ODI series as well. We didn’t play well in the first ODI, but we’re all set to perform well in the match tomorrow.”
Along with Dar, Pakistan has also been hampered by injuries sustained in New Zealand, namely Diana Baig and Shawaal Zulfiqar. Baig had surgery on her bowling arm’s index finger after being forced to miss the ODI series because of a finger injury she had during a practice on the eve of the opening game. She has four weeks off from competitive cricket.
The following players will be playing in the second ODI for Pakistan: Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Umm-e-Hani, and Waheeda Akhtar. The captain of the team is Fatima Sana.
