Nida Dar becomes the first Pakistan player to 100 T20I wickets

Nida Dar became the first player from Pakistan across genders to reach the milestone of 100 T20I wickets. Nida reached the landmark after accounting for the dismissal of West Indies opener Deandra Dottin, who handed a catch to Diana Baig in the T20I series opener in North Sound on Wednesday. The 34-year-old further followed it up with the dismissal of Stafanie Taylor, to increase the tally to 101. Anisa Mohammed (120), Ellyse Perry (115), Shabnim Ismail (110) and Anya Shrubsole (102) are the other players to have accounted for more wickets than Nida in women’s T20Is.

“Definitely there was a lot of hard work behind this milestone. I always had this in mind to complete 100 wickets as quickly as possible. I had a chance in the previous series but unfortunately couldn’t do. But this time made sure I will try my best in this series against West Indies and I am feeling great by getting this in the very first game. Sadly, the game didn’t finish in our favour and it could have been a lot better if we won the game. Anyway, next time I will try to win the game from my performance,” said Nida after the game, as quoted by Cricinfo.

“The conditions were windy and the rain also intervened, but the pitch was supportive overall. It had everything for bowlers and batters, so whoever comes strongly can score runs and can pick up wickets. We as a bowling unit gave a good start and bowled well in bits and pieces. I think 136 was a chaseable target and batters need to show more responsibility and that’s the key. We had a good outing with the ball and also took good catches in the field,” she added.

“This is no mean achievement”

PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan congratulated the cricketer, terming it as a testimony of the hard work and dedication put in over the years.

“I congratulate Nida Dar on becoming the first-ever Pakistan bowler to record a century of wickets in T20Is. This is no mean achievement and is a testimony of the hard work and dedication Nida has put in over the years. Over the last decade, Nida has prospered into an integral part of the national women’s team and has become an inspiration for the next generation of women cricketers. It is a great moment not only for her but the whole nation as she is also the first Asian woman bowler to record this landmark. Nida is an icon and inspiration to millions of young girls who are passionate about cricket and follow the game. In a day and age when women’s cricket is flourishing and its fan base is increasing day-by-day, role models like her would do well in taking the women’s game to the corners of the earth,” he said.

Amongst the women bowlers from Pakistan, former captain Sana Mir, who retired from cricket in 2020, has the second most wickets with 89 scalps at 23.42. Sadia Yousuf, who took 57 wickets in a career that spanned from 2010 till 2017, and Anam Amin (54 wickets at 20.22) are the other two bowlers with more than 50 T20I wickets. Legendary former all-rounder Shahid Afridi leads the charts with 97 T20I wickets, amongst men cricketers from Pakistan.