Daijiworld Media Network - Karachi
Karachi, Apr 25: In a heartfelt and candid announcement, veteran Pakistani all-rounder Nida Dar has declared an indefinite break from cricket, citing personal and professional struggles that have impacted her mental well-being.
The 38-year-old took to social media platform X on Friday to share her decision, stating, “A lot of things have happened in the past with me personally and professionally, and this has affected my mental health. For this reason, I am taking a break for a while to focus on myself.”
Dar, who last represented Pakistan in October 2023, was notably absent from the squad during the recent Women’s World Cup Qualifier where Pakistan secured a berth in the 2025 ODI World Cup. Reports suggest that fitness concerns, including an unsuccessful fitness test earlier this year, played a role in her exclusion.
Renowned for her aggressive batting and crafty off-spin, Dar’s recent performances have not mirrored the peak of her career. Over her last 24 T20I innings, she failed to score more than 30 runs, with an average below 17 and a strike rate under 100. Her bowling figures have also seen a dip in both average and economy rate since 2023.
Despite the dip in form and absence from recent action, Dar has not announced retirement, leaving the door open for a potential comeback.
A pioneer of Pakistan women’s cricket, Nida Dar’s contributions are etched in the sport’s history. Since her debut in 2010, she has been instrumental in Pakistan’s growth in women’s international cricket. She led the team in 24 WT20Is and 13 WODIs, becoming a role model for younger players.
Dar holds the record as Pakistan’s highest wicket-taker in women’s T20Is with 144 scalps, second only to Australia’s Megan Schutt globally. In ODIs, she ranks second for Pakistan with 108 wickets, behind only Sana Mir. With the bat, her 2,091 T20I runs place her second after Bismah Maroof, while her 1,690 ODI runs make her the fourth-highest run-scorer for Pakistan.
As the cricketing world reacts with support, fans and fellow players have lauded her courage in prioritizing mental health. While her return to the game remains uncertain, Nida Dar’s legacy as one of Pakistan’s finest cricketers remains untarnished.