Pakistan captain Fatima Sana has been given permission by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to miss the T20I series against Sri Lanka so she can play for Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred. The decision allows the young all-rounder to become the first Pakistan woman cricketer to feature in the tournament while still remaining available for the important ODI series.
Sana will play all three One-Day Internationals against Sri Lanka before leaving for England. The ODI series is part of the ICC Women’s Championship, making it an important assignment for Pakistan. After the final ODI on July 28 in Hambantota, Sana will travel directly to England to join Birmingham Phoenix for the remaining matches of The Hundred.
Because of her international duties, Sana will miss Phoenix’s opening two matches. However, she is expected to be available for the rest of the competition once she reaches England. The 24-year-old created history last month when she became the first woman from Pakistan to be selected by a team in The Hundred. Birmingham Phoenix signed her during the wildcard draft as a replacement for Australia’s Lucy Hamilton. Sana was picked on the tournament’s minimum salary of £15,000, making it another important milestone in her growing career.
Her selection came just one day after she produced one of the best all-round performances of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. Against South Africa, Sana scored an unbeaten 55 runs from just 38 balls and then claimed 3 wickets for 16 runs, almost leading Pakistan to a memorable victory. Although Pakistan narrowly lost the match, her outstanding performance attracted praise from cricket fans and experts around the world.
Sana was easily Pakistan’s best performer during a disappointing Women’s T20 World Cup campaign. Pakistan managed to win only one of their five group matches, defeating the Netherlands, and finished fifth in their six-team group.
Despite the team’s struggles, Sana impressed throughout the tournament with both bat and ball. She finished with 11 wickets at an economy rate of 6.95, making her the most successful fast bowler in the competition. Overall, she finished as the joint second-highest wicket-taker alongside Australia captain Sophie Molineux, while India’s N. Shree Charani topped the list with 14 wickets.
Apart from her bowling, Sana also contributed valuable runs lower down the order. Her fighting innings against South Africa showed her ability to perform under pressure and highlighted why she is considered one of Pakistan’s brightest young cricketers.
This will be Sana’s third experience playing in an overseas domestic T20 tournament. She previously represented Barbados Royals in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) in September 2022 before playing for Canterburyin New Zealand’s Women’s Super Smash during the 2023-24 season. Both tournaments helped her gain valuable experience in different playing conditions.
According to a PCB official who spoke to ESPNcricinfo, the board decided to allow Sana to miss the Sri Lanka T20Is because playing in a high-quality competition like The Hundred would benefit both the player and Pakistan women’s cricket in the long term.
The Hundred features many of the world’s best players, and the PCB believes the experience will help Sana improve her skills, leadership and confidence against top international talent.
For Birmingham Phoenix, Sana’s arrival strengthens their squad with an exciting fast-bowling all-rounder who has already shown she can perform on the biggest stage. For Pakistan, it is another important step in helping one of their most promising players continue her development while gaining valuable experience in one of the world’s leading women’s cricket tournaments.
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