Pakistan's Fatima Sana Joins Birmingham Phoenix for The Hundred

Captain of the Pakistan women’s cricket team, Fatima Sana, has been selected as a wildcard pick by Birmingham Phoenix for this year's The Hundred competition, slated to commence on 21 July. This makes her the first Pakistani woman to participate in the tournament. The 24-year-old all-rounder, who has featured in 61 one-day internationals and 60 T20 international matches, was notably unsold during the original auction in March.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) previously issued reminders to all franchises regarding their responsibilities towards anti-discrimination policies. Following concerns that four franchises associated with the Indian Premier League would not sign Pakistani players, the ECB affirmed that nationality should not hinder player selection. A joint statement from the ECB and the teams underscored that no player can be excluded due to their nationality.

Fatima Sana has recently showcased her skills in the Women's T20 World Cup, recording an impressive unbeaten score of 55 and taking 3 wickets for 16 runs in a tight two-wicket defeat against South Africa. This performance may have contributed to her selection for The Hundred.

In an adjustment to the Birmingham Phoenix squad, Fatima replaces Australian all-rounder Lucy Hamilton, who has withdrawn to manage her workload. Wildcard picks are typically reserved for domestic players demonstrating exceptional form, but they also serve to complete team rosters prior to the tournament.

The Hundred features a blend of men’s and women’s teams, and a total of 32 players have been selected to fill the final squad positions across the eight franchises. Among the other recent signings, fast bowler Manny Lumsden, aged 17, will play for Southern Brave, while 18-year-old Seb Morgan has joined MI London.

The final squad setups for the franchises include:

• Birmingham Phoenix: Mary Taylor, Fatima Sana, Tom Helm, Sean Dickson
• London Spirit: Trudy Johnson, Olivia Barnes, Henry Crocombe, Kiran Carlson
• Trent Rockets: Amu Surenkumar, Eve Jones, Ben Raine, Ben Sanderson
• Manchester Super Giants: Mia Rogers, Beth Langston, James Sales, Adam Finch
• MI London: Kate Coppack, Francesca Sweet, Eddie Jack, Seb Morgan
• Southern Brave: Naomi Dattani, Katherine Fraser, Manny Lumsden, Saif Zaib
• Sunrisers Leeds: Darcey Carter, Sophia Turner, Matty Revis, Charlie Allison

With this milestone, Fatima Sana not only paves the way for her career but also sets a significant precedent for Pakistani women in cricket.