The International Cricket Council’s Hall of Fame is more than an honour roll; it’s a chronicle of those who redefined the boundaries of the sport. On 9th June 2025, in an episode of “A Day with the Legends”, this illustrious club welcomed two iconic trailblazers: Sarah Taylor, the English genius behind the stumps, and Sana Mir, Pakistan’s inspirational leader and all-rounder. Both women have blazed their own unique trails, leaving legacies that transcend records and rewrite what was thought possible in women’s cricket.
Sana Mir’s journey is a story of “firsts”, firsts that broke barriers not just for her, but for women everywhere in Pakistan. Making her ODI debut against Sri Lanka in Karachi on 28th December 2005, and her T20I debut against Ireland in 2009, Mir soon became the heartbeat of Pakistan women’s cricket.
Over a 15-year career, Mir’s numbers underline her stature:
ODIs: 120 matches, 1,630 runs at 17.91 (3 fifties), 151 wickets at 24.27, economy 3.70 (7, 4-wicket hauls, 1, 5-wicket haul)
T20Is: 106 matches, 802 runs at 14.07, 89 wickets at 23.42, economy 5.51 (4, 4-wicket hauls)
She became the highest wicket-taker in ODIs and second highest in T20Is among Pakistan women, the first Pakistani woman to 100 ODI wickets, and a reliable lower-order bat with three fifties, including one in her 100th ODI, a rare double milestone.
Appointed captain at just 23 in 2009, Mir’s leadership transformed Pakistan’s women’s cricket. She led Pakistan for a tenure of 8 years, in 72 ODIs, with 26 victories as skipper and 65 T20Is, and 26 victories as skipper in the format. She led Pakistan to two Asian Games golds (2010, 2014), five ICC Women’s T20 World Cups, and two ICC Women’s Cricket World Cups.
Under her watch, teammates flourished, rankings soared, and Pakistan registered landmark wins, most notably, their first ODI victory over South Africa. Her best year, 2014, saw 21 ODI wickets in 11 games, underlining her ability to deliver under pressure.
Mir’s career-highlight, 5/32, her only fifer in international cricket came against Netherlands. Her heroics with the ball (5/14) against Scotland in the 2017 World Cup Qualifier helped Pakistan reach the Super Sixes. Her best figures with the ball in the T20I format came against Ireland (4/13), leading Pakistan to victory in the RSA T20 Cup. Unmatched in her consistency, Mir was the first Asian woman to play 100 T20Is and the first Pakistani to play 100 ODIs, a testament to her fitness, longevity, and enduring class.
Breaking Boundaries: Off The Field
Beyond the numbers, Mir became a voice for empowerment and equality.
Advocacy: Outspoken on mental health, body shaming, and women’s rights.
COVID-19 Response: Supported pandemic-affected communities.
Recognition: Stand named after her at Bugti Stadium in Quetta; PCB Cricketer of the Year; ICC Women’s committee member; ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2024 ambassador.
Mir once said, “If you’re a single woman and doing something unconventional, you don’t know that you’re doing the right thing.” In reality, her convictions paved the way for countless girls to dream and achieve.
Becoming the first Pakistani woman cricketer inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame is a crowning moment, but her legacy began long before. Mir inspired teammates, galvanised a nation, and built pillars on which the future of Pakistan women’s cricket will stand.
Alongside Sana Mir, England great Sarah Taylor also joined the elite list of ICC Hall of Famers, and their inductions are more than individual accolades, they are landmark moments for women’s cricket. Taylor’s artistry behind the stumps and Mir’s courage as a leader have inspired millions, changed perceptions and creating new possibilities.
As their careers are etched into the Hall of Fame, their stories remain living, breathing testaments to the power of perseverance, skill, and vision. The world of cricket is richer for their presence, and the future, brighter for the path they have created.
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