Pakistan Women’s Captain Fatima Sana has been granted permission by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to miss the T20I leg of the team’s upcoming tour of Sri Lanka in order to represent Birmingham Phoenix in the 2026 edition of The Hundred, according to a report by Geo Super.
The 24-year-old will remain available for Pakistan’s three-match ODI series, which forms part of the ICC Women’s Championship, before travelling to England to join Birmingham Phoenix for the remainder of the tournament. The decision gives Pakistan access to one of its leading all-rounders for the 50-over fixtures while allowing Sana to seize a rare opportunity to compete in one of the world’s premier women’s franchise competitions.
A breakthrough opportunity for Pakistan women’s cricket
Sana’s selection is a landmark moment for Pakistan women’s cricket, with the all-rounder becoming the first player from the country to earn a contract in the women’s edition of The Hundred. Birmingham Phoenix signed her in the tournament’s wildcard draft after Australia’s Lucy Hamilton withdrew from the competition.
The move also underlines the growing importance of global franchise leagues in the women’s game. Compared with players from several other Full Member nations, Pakistan’s women have had relatively few opportunities to gain experience in overseas domestic competitions, making Sana’s participation particularly significant.
PCB balances national duty with player development
Sana is expected to complete Pakistan’s ODI commitments before departing for England, meaning she will not be available for the subsequent three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka.
According to Cricinfo, the PCB approved the arrangement to allow Sana to benefit from playing in the highly competitive environment offered by The Hundred, recognising the value of exposing one of the country’s leading players to elite franchise cricket.
The Hundred is scheduled to run from 21 July to 16 August and will also be the first edition played since private investors assumed partial or full ownership stakes in the competition’s franchises following last year’s sales process.
Strong form earned her opportunity
Sana heads to England after another productive international season that further established her credentials as one of Pakistan’s premier all-rounders.
She has represented Pakistan in 61 Women’s One-Day Internationals, scoring 785 runs at an average of 18.25, with a highest score of 90 not out, while claiming 82 wickets, including career-best figures of 5 for 39.
In Women’s T20 Internationals, she has featured in 63 matches, scoring 800 runs at an average of 32.00 with a highest score of 90, alongside 59 wickets, with best bowling figures of 4 for 26.
Her performances at the recent ICC Women’s T20 World Cup were among the few positives for Pakistan despite the team’s group-stage exit. Sana finished as Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker and the tournament’s leading fast bowler with 11 wickets at an economy rate of 6.95, while also emerging as her side’s third-highest run-scorer with 85 runs, including an unbeaten 55 against South Africa.
Overseas experience continues to grow
The Hundred will be only Sana’s second overseas franchise assignment.
She previously represented Barbados Royals in the 2022 Women’s Caribbean Premier League, where she featured in two matches, claimed three wickets, including best figures of 2 for 27, and scored 30 runs.
Following the conclusion of the ODI series in Sri Lanka, Sana is set to travel to England to begin her historic campaign with Birmingham Phoenix before returning to international duty after The Hundred concludes.
