Scorchers land Pakistan captain in Big Bash coup

Perth Scorchers have pulled off one of the most significant international signings in the history of the women's Big Bash, securing Pakistan captain Fatima Sana for Weber WBBL|12.

Sana, who has represented her country in 134 white-ball fixtures, has signed a one-year deal with the club and is available for the first eight games of the season.

The 24-year-old allrounder is set to become just the second Pakistan player to feature in the WBBL, following Nida Dar who played 11 games for Sydney Thunder in WBBL|05.

Sana nominated for the now shelved overseas player draft last year but was not selected by any of the eight Big Bash teams.

The new Scorchers recruit said she was thrilled to finally put pen to paper with a WBBL side.

"I've watched the WBBL from Pakistan and always wondered what it would feel like to be part of this great competition," Sana said in a statement.

"To now wear the Scorchers colours, represent such a great club and walk out at the WACA Ground ... while being cheered on by people back home, is incredibly special. This really is a dream come true."

Sana made her debut for Pakistan during the side's 2019 tour of South Africa and dismissed Hobart Hurricanes power-hitter Lizelle Lee to claim her first international wicket.

The Karachi product became the first woman from her nation to receive an ICC award in 2021, when she was named as the ICC Women's Emerging Cricketer of the Year.

She's led her country permanently since the 2024 T20 World Cup and was a standout performer in this year's edition of the event, taking 11 wickets to earn a place in the team of the tournament.

Sana's World Cup campaign was just one of many highlights for the dynamic No.7 batter in 2026.

She made history by hitting the fastest fifty in women's T20 internationals against Zimbabwe in May, reaching a half-century in just 15 balls.

Two months later, Sana became the first Pakistan woman to play in ECB's Hundred franchise tournament, representing Birmingham Phoenix in six matches.

The right-arm bowler most recently lifted her nation to a bronze medal in the Asian Games last month, capping off a sensational calendar year that's seen her produce 31 wickets and 540 runs in T20Is.

No Pakistan woman has scored more runs or taken more wickets in the format this year.

Scorchers general manager Kade Harvey said the club is delighted to have signed one of the finest cricketers in the women's game.

"Fatima is one of the most exciting young allrounders in world cricket, and we're thrilled to welcome her to Perth Scorchers for the upcoming summer," Harvey said.

"A proven performer at the age of 24, we believe she fits our list profile really well and we're excited to see how Fatima executes on the WACA Ground wicket."

Sana's signing completes the Scorchers' overseas contingent for WBBL|12, having already regained England allrounder Freya Kemp and New Zealand icon Sophie Devine from the squad that reached last season's final.

Perth Scorchers WBBL|12 squad (so far)

Contracted for WBBL|12: Chloe Ainsworth (W|12), Sophie Devine (New Zealand) (W|12), Amy Edgar (W|13), Ebony Hoskin (W|12), Freya Kemp (England) (W|12), Alana King (W|12), Katie Mack (W|12), Lilly Mills (W|12), Beth Mooney (W|12), Fatima Sana (Pakistan) (W|12), Ruby Strange (W|12)

 

Uncontracted: Maddy Darke, Mikayla Hinkley, Shea Manolini, Chloe Piparo

 

Coach: Becky Grundy 

The trio are set to join Australian pair Beth Mooney and Alana King in orange, when the WBBL|07 champions kick off their new campaign on October 31 against Melbourne Renegades at the WACA Ground.

Many of Pakistan's men's players have featured in the Big Bash, including former skipper Babar Azam who played for Sydney Sixers last summer.

Babar was one of six Pakistani players to feature in BBL|15, alongside Shaheen Afridi, Muhammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan and Hassan Ali.

Currently no Pakistan player has signed with a club ahead of the new men's season, which kicks off with a history-making match in Chennai between the Renegades and Scorchers on December 12.