Sana Mir, the 34-year-old spin wizard from Pakistan decided to draw curtains on her illustrious international cricket career on April 25. Mir made her ODI debut against Sri Lanka in Karachi in December 2005, while her T20 debut came four years later against Ireland in Dublin in May 2009.
She played her last ODI against Bangladesh in Lahore in November 2019 and her final T20 was also against the same opposition in Lahore in October 2019.
Having featured in 120 ODIs for Pakistan, the right arm off-break bowler is the highest wicket-taker among spinners with 151 wickets. 2014 was the best year of her career when she took 21 wickets in 11 ODIs at 12.57. In October 2018, Mir, a vital cog in the Pakistani bowling line-up, became the numero uno ODI bowler. The 34-year old has remained parsimonious with the ball all throughout her 14-year long career as she boasts of an economy of just 3.70. With the bat, she also scored 1630 runs, including three half-centuries, at an average of 17.91. The 34-year old is also one of the nine women cricketers to have taken at least 100 wickets and scored over 1000 runs in ODIs. She captained Pakistan in 72 ODIs.
In the T20s, Mir with 89 wickets in 106 matches at an economy of 5.51, is the second-highest wicket-taker from Pakistan behind Nida Dar, who has 98 wickets. The former captain has 802 runs in 81 innings at an average of 14.07 and highest score of 48 not out. She captained Pakistan in 65 T20Is.
Apart from her phenomenal individual achievements, Mir has successfully led Pakistan to two Asian Games gold medals in 2010 and 2014. There is no doubt that Sana Mir will be regarded as one of the best ambassadors of the sport and has been a true legend to have inspired young and budding women cricketers to take up the sport.
In 2012, Mir became the first woman cricketer from Pakistan to receive the ‘Tamgha-e-Imtiaz’ award for her services in cricket.
Loves all things female cricket