Pakistan allrounder Nida Dar has made herself available for national selection after a year-long hiatus from the game. She had decided to step away from cricket in April 2025 citing personal and professional reasons which, she said, were affecting her mental health.
"After taking time to focus on myself and regain my strength, I am happy to share that I am back and available for Pakistan Cricket Team once again," she posted on X. "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, now 39, made her last international appearance in October 2024 during Pakistan's 54-run defeat to New Zealand in the T20 World Cup. After that tournament, Pakistan seemed to have moved on from her because of a plunge in her form and concerns around her fitness. Dar was not even offered a central contract.
She remains, however, one of the most successful women cricketers to have come out of Pakistan and their most successful allrounder across the white-ball formats. Dar was the first bowler, man or woman, from Pakistan to take 100 T20I wickets, and her current tally of 144 is the national record.
Dar is also the second-highest run-scorer for Pakistan in T20Is with 2091 runs at a strike rate of 101.35, only behind Bismah Maroof. Dar has the third-most wickets for Pakistan in ODIs, and is one of three bowlers - Sana Mir and Nashra Sandhu are the others - to have 100 wickets in the format. With the bat, Dar has 11 half-centuries across 96 ODI innings, in which she made 1690 runs.
Pakistan are currently playing the T20 World Cup in England. They lost their second match of the tournament to South Africa by two wickets on Wednesday after suffering a chastening defeat to India in the tournament opener. Their next match is against Bangladesh in Southampton on Saturday.