Pakistan captain Fatima Sana has made history by becoming the first Pakistani woman to be selected for The Hundred, after Birmingham Phoenix drafted her as a replacement signing ahead of the 2026 edition of the competition.
The 24-year-old all-rounder was initially overlooked in the original tournament auction held in March. However, she was brought in on Thursday as a direct replacement for Australia’s Lucy Hamilton, who was withdrawn from the Phoenix squad after being awarded a central contract by Cricket Australia.
Sana is currently representing Pakistan in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England, adding to the significance of her recruitment ahead of the tournament’s July 21 start.
Her selection carries additional weight given the controversy that surrounded The Hundred’s international player selection process earlier this year. Reports had suggested that Indian investment into the 100-ball competition could lead to an informal ban on Pakistani players being picked.
The ECB and all eight franchises jointly clarified that “players must not be excluded on the grounds of nationality.” Pakistani players subsequently featured in the men’s auction, with Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq both signed, and Sana’s addition now extends that positive momentum to the women’s game.
Birmingham Phoenix performance director James Thomas welcomed the signing enthusiastically. “Fatima Sana is a real statement of intent. She is Pakistan’s captain, an international-class pace bowler and a brilliant replacement for Lucy Hamilton,” he said.
