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Pakistan skipper and one of the country’s most successful female batters ever, Fatima Sana dreams of a time when Pakistan’s women’s teams will draw equally big crowds of fans and spectators as its men’s teams.

She was speaking to a reporter from Cricblog TV — a YouTube channel focused on cricket — at the sidelines of the Women’s Big Bash League in Australia when she was asked if she thought there could be a time when Pakistan’s men’s and women’s teams could be at par with one another.

Sana answered that she wished to see such a time and that both men’s and women’s cricket were growing around the world, and she hoped both would grow in Pakistan as well.

“Obviously, playing sports matters, whether it’s for men or women. So, I wish they would be at the same level. The way the men play, the crowds come [to cheer for them], I wish that happens for women too.”

Sana said she wished as many girls as possible from Pakistan got the opportunity to play cricket internationally so the sport could develop. She said the decision to let Pakistan host the women’s T20 World Cup in 2028 was a positive step that could inspire more girls to play and their parents to let them.

The cricketer was also very appreciative of her teammates in the Perth Scorchers — especially Australian wicket-keeper Beth Mooney and Kiwi cricket and hockey star Sophie Devine — for helping her develop her game.

A right-arm medium-fast bowler and middle-order batter, Sana made her international debut in 2019 and has since established herself as one of Pakistan’s leading all-rounders. She has represented Pakistan in more than 130 white-ball matches.

Earlier this year, she set a record for the fastest half-century in women’s T20 Internationals when she reached the landmark in 15 balls against Zimbabwe.