Pakistan women’s captain Fatima Sana has made history by becoming the first Pakistani woman cricketer selected in The Hundred 2026 wildcard draft. The all-rounder was picked by Birmingham Phoenix as a replacement for Australia’s Lucy Hamilton, who withdrew due to workload management.
Sana is set to earn the tournament’s minimum salary of £15,000 (around 5.6 million PKR), marking another milestone in her rising international career. However, her participation could be impacted by Pakistan’s upcoming Sri Lanka tour scheduled from 23 July to 4 August, creating a potential scheduling clash.
Birmingham Phoenix performance director James Thomas described Sana’s inclusion as a “statement signing,” praising her leadership, pace bowling ability, and match-winning temperament. He noted that she brings international-class experience and strengthens the franchise’s bowling attack. Sana recently showcased her exceptional form in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 against South Africa, where she played a brilliant unbeaten 55 off 38 balls and claimed three wickets, although Pakistan narrowly lost the match.
Her selection also highlights Pakistan’s growing footprint in global franchise cricket, as she becomes the third Pakistani player featured in this season’s tournament alongside Usman Tariq and Abrar Ahmed. The development underlines the increasing recognition of Pakistani talent in women’s cricket and boosts the profile of emerging stars on the global stage, especially in high-profile T20 franchise leagues.
