The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) granted Pakistan women’s captain Fatima Sana a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to miss the T20 International series against Sri Lanka in order to play in the 2026 edition of The Hundred in England. Restricting the talented all-rounder to represent Birmingham Phoenix, marks another significant milestone in her burgeoning international career.
However, Sana has been kept as part of Pakistan’s ODI squad for the Sri Lanka tour despite being unavailable for the three-match T20I series. The ODI fixtures are important because they also count as part of the ICC Women&experience a very challenging situation. Sana is set to fly straight from Hambantota to England for the final Women’s Hundred matches with Birmingham Phoenix after the ODI series concludes on July 28.
Earlier in the year, the 24-year-old made history as the first Pakistani female cricketer to sign a contract with a franchise in The Hundred. Birmingham Phoenix used her as a wildcard draft pick, in what represents the breakthrough for Pakistan women’s cricket on an international franchise level.
Out of those, Sana comes into the tournament in fine form. In the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, she was in a class of her own for Pakistan as they finished at the bottom of their group. Out of all her skills with bat and ball, she became a perfect example of all-rounder playing an unbeaten half-century against South Africa after guiding India to victory on a bowling spell that earned her wide praise in October 2023
She ended the tournament as the most successful fast bowler with 11 wickets in hand. Her drafted performances affirmed her status as one of Pakistan’s premier all-rounders, and solidified her place in the records series across all forms of global cricket.
The Women’s Hundred will also provide another opportunity for Sana to get quality overseas exposure. She has also been part of franchise leagues with Barbados Royals in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL), and had previously played for Canterbury in New Zealand’s Women’s Super Smash.
PCB officials stated as a part of more comprehensive, long-term plans to ensure Pakistan’s leading players are used to playing in high-level international franchise competitions, they want Sana to play in The Hundred. The board feels that this experience of playing with some great cricketers in the world will only help her improve and eventually benefit Pakistan women’s cricket at upcoming international tournaments.
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