Nida Dar announces comeback after Pakistan's poor performance in ongoing Women's T20 World Cup 2026
Know why Nida Dar returned after a year-long mental health break as Pakistan struggle with back-to-back defeats at the Women's T20 World Cup 2026.
Be a winner today!
Get the latest cricket updates, Join our community
Pakistan's Women's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign has gotten off to a disappointing start, with the team suffering back-to-back defeats in their first two matches. Pakistan lost to India in their tournament opener before falling short against South Africa, leaving their hopes of reaching the knockout stage hanging by a thread.
Amid the team's struggles, former Pakistan women's cricket team captain Nida Dar has announced her return to professional cricket. The veteran all-rounder had stepped away from the game indefinitely in April 2025 to focus on her mental well-being. Her absence was a significant setback for Pakistan, given her experience and leadership within the squad.
Sharing the update on X, Nida Dar confirmed that she is ready to resume her cricketing career and has made herself available for national selection once again. Her return comes at a crucial time for Pakistan women's cricket, with fans hoping that her experience and all-round abilities can help strengthen the team following its difficult start to the Women's T20 World Cup 2026.
Who is Nida Dar? Pakistan's veteran all-rounder returns to the spotlight
Nida Dar is one of the most accomplished cricketers in the history of Pakistan women's cricket. Born on January 2, 1987, the experienced all-rounder is a right-handed batter and a right-arm off-spin bowler. Over the years, she has established herself as one of Pakistan's most reliable performers and remains the country's highest-profile women's cricketer.
Dar's achievements speak for themselves. She is the leading wicket-taker in Women's T20 Internationals and became the first Pakistani cricketer, male or female, to claim 100 wickets in T20Is. Her ability to contribute with both bat and ball has made her a key figure in Pakistan's success across formats.
The veteran all-rounder also led the Pakistan women's national team between April 2023 and August 2024, captaining the side in 24 WT20Is and 13 WODIs. She took over the leadership role following Bismah Maroof's resignation after the 2023 Women's T20 World Cup before later being replaced by Fatima Sana ahead of the 2024 edition of the tournament.
See also -Meet Fatima Sana: From tape-ball cricket in Karachi to Pakistan's fast-bowling captain
In April 2025, Dar announced an indefinite break from cricket to focus on her mental health. The decision sparked widespread discussion about athlete's well-being, as she stepped away from the game while still being one of Pakistan's most experienced and influential players. Following her absence, she was also left out of the Pakistan Cricket Board's central contracts list, raising questions about whether she would return to international cricket.
However, after more than a year away from the game, Dar has confirmed that she is ready to make her comeback. Sharing the news on X, she expressed her excitement about returning to competitive cricket and making herself available for national selection once again.
"After taking time to focus on myself and regain my strength, I am happy to share that I am back and available for the Pakistan Cricket Team once again. Ready to give my best, work hard and contribute whenever the team needs me. Thank you to everyone who supported me during this journey," Dar wrote.
Dar last played for Pakistan during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 in the UAE. With 112 ODIs and 160 T20Is to her name, she remains one of the most experienced players in Pakistan's cricket history. Her return comes at a crucial time, with Pakistan struggling at the ongoing Women's T20 World Cup 2026 after losing their opening matches against India and South Africa.
What happened to Nida Dar? Her year-long break and comeback statement explained
Nida Dar's international career was put on hold in April 2025 when she announced an indefinite break from professional cricket to focus on her mental health. The decision came as a surprise to many fans, as the experienced all-rounder remained one of Pakistan's most recognisable and respected cricketers. By stepping away from the game without setting a return date, Dar chose to prioritise her well-being during a challenging period in her personal and professional life.
The break marked a significant turning point in her career. During her time away from the sport, Dar remained out of the national setup and was subsequently omitted from the Pakistan Cricket Board's central contracts list. With no clear timeline for her return, speculation grew over whether the former captain had played her last match for Pakistan.
More than a year later, those doubts have finally been answered. Dar took to X to announce that she is ready to return to competitive cricket and has made herself available for national selection once again. In her statement, she revealed that the time away from the game had helped her regain both strength and confidence.
"After taking time to focus on myself and regain my strength, I am happy to share that I am back and available for the Pakistan Cricket Team once again," Dar wrote. She added that she is eager to work hard and contribute whenever the team needs her. Her comeback comes at an important moment for Pakistan women's cricket, with the team enduring a difficult start to the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 after consecutive defeats against India and South Africa.
Will PCB recall Nida Dar? What her comeback means for Pakistan's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign
Nida Dar's return comes at a crucial time for Pakistan women's cricket. Led by Fatima Sana, Pakistan have lost their opening two matches of the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 against India and South Africa. With the team struggling in Group A, Dar's comeback has sparked fresh debate about whether the Pakistan Cricket Board could bring back one of the country's most experienced all-rounders.
A look at the statistics below shows why Dar remains such an important figure in Pakistan cricket. Her international T20 record highlights her value as a genuine all-rounder, while her performances in the Women's Big Bash League demonstrate that she has also succeeded at the franchise level.
Nida Dar WT20I Career Stats -Bowling
| Matches | Innings | Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 160 | 152 | 144 | 5/21 | 20.20 | 5.70 |
Batting & Fielding
| Matches | Innings | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | Fifties | Catches |
| 160 | 141 | 2,091 | 75 | 17.87 | 101.35 | 7 | 42 |
See also -Watch: Funny Pakistan run-out vs South Africa — Did Fatima Sana collide? Women's T20 WC 2026
Nida Dar WBBL Stats -Bowling
| Matches | Innings | Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | Economy |
| 11 | 10 | 13 | 2/15 | 16.92 | 6.87 |
Batting & Fielding
| Matches | Innings | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | Fifties | Catches |
| 11 | 10 | 99 | 43 | 12.37 | 89.18 | 0 | 2 |
Dar's value goes beyond numbers. She helped Pakistan win gold medals at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games and became the first Pakistani cricketer, male or female, to claim 100 T20I wickets. She was also named PCB Women's Cricketer of the Year in 2021 and later captained the national team.
While there is no official indication that PCB plans to recall her immediately, Dar's comeback has certainly strengthened her case. With Pakistan looking for experience, leadership, and all-round quality after a difficult start to the World Cup, many fans will feel she still has plenty to offer at the international level.
Tags:
author
