{"id":777154,"date":"2026-07-03T20:29:35","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T20:29:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/777154\/"},"modified":"2026-07-03T20:29:35","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T20:29:35","slug":"for-the-love-of-the-game-fatima-sana-on-discipline-growth-her-passion-for-cricket","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/777154\/","title":{"rendered":"For the Love of the Game: Fatima Sana on Discipline, Growth & Her Passion for Cricket"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

South Asia and its passion for cricket is a never-ending love story. A game once known as the gentleman\u2019s game is now played on streets across the region, where fierce rivalries, nail-biting finishes, and post-match analysis fill drawing rooms long after the bails have been removed from the stumps. Cricket beats at the heart of these nations. That passion was on full display this summer as the women\u2019s teams from the Indian subcontinent took to the field at the Women\u2019s T20 World Cup in England.<\/p>\n

Captaining your country at a World Cup is no small achievement, especially in parts of the world where women\u2019s cricket might have had to fight for investment, recognition and opportunities that many others take for granted. Yet, Fatima Sana, skipper of the Pakistan team, has risen to the very top of the game, leading her squad onto one of cricket\u2019s biggest stages this summer.<\/p>\n

The winning teams might have massive corporate infrastructures behind them, but what her team may lack in funding, they make up with their grit and love for the game. And even though the results might not have gone their way in this tournament, they have shown that they are not just participants, but serious contenders.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We sat down with the Pakistan captain to talk about her journey. From where her love for the game began, to bouncing back after setbacks, staying disciplined, switching off after a long day of training, and what leadership has taught her.<\/p>\n

\"\"Image Courtesy: Pakistan Cricket Board<\/p>\n

Can you tell us a bit about your journey into cricket? What first made you fall in love with the sport?<\/p>\n

This is probably the question I\u2019m asked the most. I started playing cricket with my brothers in the streets. It was never planned as a career in the beginning. I just loved being around the game, competing, and trying to get better every day. Over time, that passion grew stronger, and what started as street cricket eventually became my profession. Looking back, I\u2019m just grateful that I kept believing in that dream.<\/p>\n

Women\u2019s cricket has grown significantly in Pakistan, but the infrastructure and grassroots pathways still aren\u2019t where many people would like them to be. What has your experience been like navigating that?<\/p>\n

This is something that a lot of people talk about, and rightly so. There has definitely been progress over the years, but there\u2019s still room for improvement. When I was growing up, opportunities weren\u2019t as accessible as they are today.<\/p>\n

We had to make the most of whatever was available. Hopefully, with more investment in grassroots cricket, the next generation will have an even better pathway than we did.<\/p>\n

Personally, I believe that whenever we\u2019re given the opportunity to represent Pakistan on the biggest stages, like a World Cup, our first responsibility is to give absolutely everything on the field. It\u2019s important to talk about facilities, infrastructure, and support, but those conversations carry even more weight when they\u2019re backed by strong performances. <\/p>\n

I\u2019m confident the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) will continue improving the areas that need attention, and as players we also have to keep pushing ourselves to improve every day. Both things can go together, and that\u2019s how the game moves forward.<\/p>\n

Have there been any cultural or societal expectations you\u2019ve had to push back against while building your career as a professional athlete?<\/p>\n

Of course, there are always opinions when a girl chooses a different path, but I was fortunate to have my family\u2019s support from the beginning. Their belief in me gave me the confidence to focus on my cricket, and over time, performances speak louder than anything else.<\/p>\n

\"\"Image Courtesy: Pakistan Cricket Board<\/p>\n

How do you maintain discipline and motivation, especially when results aren\u2019t going your way?<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve learned that motivation comes and goes, so I don\u2019t rely on motivation. I rely on discipline. There are days when you don\u2019t feel your best, but those are usually the days that shape you the most.<\/p>\n

Results don\u2019t always reflect the work you\u2019ve put in. Sometimes you play well and still lose. Instead of asking, \u201cWhy did this happen?\u201d I try to ask, \u201cWhat is this teaching me?\u201d <\/p>\n

If I know I\u2019ve prepared honestly and given everything I have, I can accept the result, learn from it, and come back better the next day.<\/p>\n

Who has been your biggest source of support throughout your journey?<\/p>\n

My family has always been my biggest source of support, especially my late father. He believed in me from the very beginning and always encouraged me to chase my dreams. Even today, his belief in me continues to motivate me. I\u2019m also grateful to my family, my coaches, and my teammates because no one achieves success alone.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s one thing about this team that you\u2019re most proud of?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m proud of the character in this group. This tournament hasn\u2019t gone the way we wanted, but the girls have continued to work hard, support each other, and keep learning. That\u2019s important because growth doesn\u2019t only come through wins, it also comes through difficult moments.<\/p>\n

\"\"Image Courtesy: ICC<\/p>\n

After a gruelling training session or an intense match, how do you like to unwind?<\/p>\n

I like to keep things simple. Whenever I\u2019m home, I enjoy having a cup of tea with my mother and sister. Sometimes I\u2019ll take my sports bicycle out for a ride on the road in front of our house, or just finding a quiet moment for myself. That balance helps me come back refreshed.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the biggest lesson leadership has taught you since becoming captain?<\/p>\n

Leadership has taught me that being captain isn\u2019t about having all the answers. It\u2019s about listening, earning your teammates\u2019 trust, and helping everyone become the best version of themselves. I\u2019ve also learned that you have to be the first person willing to do what looks difficult. <\/p>\n

As a captain, you can\u2019t ask others to do something you\u2019re not prepared to do yourself. <\/p>\n

You have to lead by example, no matter the situation. When your team sees that, trust grows, and when the team grows, you grow with them.<\/p>\n

As captain, what do you say in the dressing room after a difficult loss, and how do you help the team deal with these setbacks?<\/p>\n

The first thing I tell the team is to be honest with ourselves. We don\u2019t make excuses and we don\u2019t hide from the result. We accept it, we learn from it, and then we get back to work.<\/p>\n

You can\u2019t build character only when you\u2019re winning. Difficult moments are where you learn the most about yourself and your team. Every setback is an opportunity to improve if you\u2019re willing to be honest and put in the work. That\u2019s the mindset I want this team to have.<\/p>\n

\"\"Image Courtesy: Pakistan Cricket Board<\/p>\n

What does this moment, captaining your national team at a World Cup, mean to you personally?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Captaining Pakistan at a World Cup is one of the greatest honours of my life. It\u2019s a responsibility I carry with immense pride because I know I\u2019m not only representing myself, but my teammates, my family, and millions of people back home who believe in us. It\u2019s a privilege I\u2019ll never take for granted.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Image Courtesy: Pakistan Cricket Board<\/p>\n

Finally, what would you say to a young girl who dreams of becoming a professional athlete?<\/p>\n

To every young girl with a dream, I would say this: <\/p>\n

don\u2019t let anyone else define what you are capable of. Dream big, stay disciplined, and fall in love with the process, not just the result. <\/p>\n

There will be setbacks, sacrifices, and moments when you\u2019ll question yourself, but don\u2019t let those moments stop you. Let them shape you. Keep showing up, keep learning, and keep believing. One day, someone else will look at your journey and believe that they can chase their own dream too. That\u2019s how the game grows, and that\u2019s how we inspire the next generation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"South Asia and its passion for cricket is a never-ending love story. A game once known as the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":777155,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[564],"tags":[64,63,740,85],"class_list":["post-777154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cricket","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-cricket","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/777154","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=777154"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/777154\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/777155"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=777154"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=777154"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=777154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}