A 17-year-old pace bowler Fatima Sana has been included in Pakistan women team that will tour South Africa starting from April 29. Fatima has replaced Diana Baig who underwent surgery on her injured left thumb. Diana has been advised eight to ten weeks rest following the surgery which ruled her out of Pakistan's tour of South Africa. Diana got injured during a training session on Monday, a PCB spokesman said.
Chief selector Pakistan women team Urooj Mumtaz expressed her disappointment at Diana's injury and said that the tour of South Africa provides a good opportunity for Fatima to prove her worth. Fatima took seven wickets in as many games in the recently concluded 2nd Inter-Departmental T20 Women's Cricket Championship 2019 that was held in Islamabad. The Hyderabad-born Fatima represented ZTBL in the tournament.
Diana will now undergo a rehabilitation programme under the supervision of National Cricket Academy's medical panel. Pakistan team will leave for South Africa on April 29. The team will play a series of three ODIs (part of the ICC Women's Championship), five T20Is and two warm-up games in their 25-day tour.