Born on 14th August 1982 in Karachi, Sind, is former Test, ODI and T20 International player for Pakistan, Batool Fatima.
A wicket keeper and right hand batter, Fatima is one of only three Pakistan players to have played in all three formats of the game. (The other two being Urooj Mumtaz and Sajjida Shah) She played only one Test, in 2003/04, scored a duck but took 3 catches and 2 stumpings. It puts her at the top of the tree for Pakistan wicket keepers in Tests despite have played only one match.
Fatima made her ODI debut against the Netherlands at home in Karachi in April 2001, but didn’t keep wickets. That job went to Uzma Gondal, leaving Fatima as a specialist batter, mostly at the tail end. She moved up the order as time went by but her batting was clearly not her strongest suit.
It wasn’t until 2003 that she was given the gloves. Her record since then would suggest she might have been given the gloves earlier. In 83 ODIs Fatima took 54 catches and 46 stumpings, giving her exactly 100 dismissals. (equal sixth overall with Australia’s Julia Price.) She is far and away Pakistan’s most successful ODI wicket keeper. Next best is 36 (Sidra Nawaz). She also appeared in the 2009 and 2013 World Cups.
Fatima’s T20 International career is a similar tale of efficiency behind the stumps. In 45 matches, 39 stumpings and 11 catches, a total of 50 dismissals. Once more, the best of all-time for Pakistan and played in four T20I World Cups (2009, 2010, 2012 and 2014.)
In domestic cricket Fatima represented Karachi in 50 over format and Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited in both 50 over and T20. While batting was not a key factor for her in international cricket she did manage to score three half centuries domestically, with a top score of 57.
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