Pakistan women cricket team captain Fatima Sana has become the first Pakistani to feature in The Hundred Women’s Competition after Birmingham Phoenix signed her in Thursday’s wildcard draft.
The 24-year-old all-rounder takes up the Phoenix’s fourth overseas slot, which opened after Cricket Australia withdrew Lucy Hamilton to manage her workload.
Sana will earn the tournament’s minimum salary of £15,000, approximately PKR5.6 million, and her selection came just hours after a standout all-round performance for Pakistan against South Africa at Edgbaston, the Phoenix’s home ground.
Sana top-scored with an unbeaten 55 off 38 balls batting at number eight, then followed that with figures of 3 for 16 as South Africa edged home with two wickets in hand.
However, her availability for the tournament may be limited as Pakistan’s scheduled tour of Sri Lanka runs from July 23 to August 4, overlapping with The Hundred’s July 21 to August 16 window.
Sana becomes the third Pakistan player to secure a contract in The Hundred this year as she joins Usman Tariq at Birmingham Phoenix, while mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed is set to represent Sunrisers Leeds after being signed for £190,000 at March’s auction.
Elsewhere in the wildcard draft, several players from the Women’s T20 World Cup secured deals, with each franchise signing two men and two women players on minimum contracts to complete their squads.
Scotland openers Darcey Carter and Katherine Fraser were picked up by Sunrisers Leeds and Southern Brave respectively, both qualifying as local players.
In the men’s competition, Sussex seamer Henry Crocombe joined London Spirit following a recent England Test call-up, while MI London added fast bowlers Eddie Jack and Seb Morgan. Southern Brave also secured England Under-19 pacer Manny Lumsden.
