Breaking records in the newly popularised format of T20 cricket, Nida Dar made it as the “Captain of Pakistan Team” in April 2023.
She earned her place as the skipper of the national team by setting new benchmarks. In 2021, she became the first Pakistani bowler with 100 T20I wickets and only the 6th player overall with this achievement. Moreover, some of her most note-worthy performances include the game against India during the 2018 edition – she went onto smash 52 off just 35 balls followed up with bowling figures of 1-17 in 4 overs.
Family History and Background
Born on the 2nd of January 1987 in Sialkot, Nida followed in the footsteps of her father by choosing a career path in cricket. Her father, Rashid Hassan played at the regional level in the following teams: Karachi whites, Karachi Blues, Pakistan Universities. Regardless, he was unable to make it to the National Cricket team in his prime. Unfortunately, he did not live on to witness Nida become the Captain of the National team. He passed away in the November of 2021. At the time of his passing, Nida was engaged in training with the Pakistan team for the upcoming West Indies series. However, she immediately left the team squad to attend her father’s last rites upon hearing the news of his demise.
As a resident of the small town of Gujranwala, some of her fondest childhood memories include street cricket. From the very beginning, she discusses her devotion to the game, recounting how people often assumed she was a boy because she interacted mainly with boys playing cricket.
Cricketing Career
Nida Dar plays her cricketing role as an all-rounder in the field with right-handed batting and right-arm off break bowling. Additionally, she made her first International Debut at the age of 23 in the One-day International Series against Ireland on 6 October 2010 in Potchefstroom, South Africa. She made her WT20I debut in the same year and was also selected for the 2010 Asian games in China. From there onwards she played consistently in the national team. From various ODI/T20 series to world Cup qualifiers, she was extremely committed in making progress.
Her first breakthrough came with the record of becoming the first player in the Women’s team to take a five-wicket haul in the T20I format. She was then also titled as the “Stand-out” player by ICC in the 2018 ICC Women world Twenty20 tournament in the West Indies. Nida Dar continued to advance as a star player from here onwards. Furthermore, she was named in the Pakistan squad across all formats for the series against west indies in 2021. She particularly outshined all others with her 100th wicket in T20I series against West Indies in the same year. In January 2022, she was promoted as the Vice-Captain of the Pakistan Team for the 2022 Women’s Cricket World Cup in Newzealand. The retirement of Bismah Maroof, ending a 17-year long prestigious career led into the captaincy being handed over to Nida.
Important Records
- 4th Most runs in an innings (by batting position) (87) Women’s One-Day Internationals.
- 8th Most ducks in career (12) Women’s One-Day Internationals.
- 9th Best figures in a innings by a captain (4) Women’s One-Day Internationals.
- 6th Most wickets taken stumped (16) Women’s One-Day Internationals.
- 3rd highest partnership for the sixth wicket (137) Women’s One Day Internationals.
- 9th Most runs in an innings (by batting position) (24*) Women’s Twenty20 Internationals.
- Most consecutive 4-wickets in an innings (2) Women’s Twenty20 Internationals.
- Most runs conceded in career (2585) Women’s Twenty20 Internationals.
- 9th Most catches in career (39) Women’s Twenty20 Internationals.
- 8th Most ducks in career (12) Women’s Twenty20 Internationals.
- 250 runs and 10 wickets in a series Women’s Twenty20 Internationals.
- 6th most matches in career (144) Women’s Twenty20 Internationals.
- 2nd most wickets in career (132) Women’s Twenty20 Internationals.
- Most balls bowled in Career (2804) Women’s Twenty20 Internationals.
- Most wickets taken stumped (19) Women’s Twenty20 Internationals.
Highest T20I wicket-taker
In a recent turn of events, the captain has surpassed the previous record of the Australian player Megan Schutt. Nida Dar has secured the title of the highest wickets taken in the T20I format by claiming her 137th wicket. She achieved this record in her second match against England in Northampton. Additionally, this was her 141st T20I innings where she further added two more wickets to solidify her leading position.
