Pakistan women’s captain Fatima Sana has been cleared by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to miss the T20I leg of the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka to represent Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred, marking a milestone in her career. According to Cricinfo, the PCB has issued the 24-year-old all-rounder a No Objection Certificate (NOC), allowing him to prioritize the English franchise tournament while remaining available for Pakistan’s ODI commitments.
ODI duties first, hundred later
Sana will continue to lead Pakistan in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, with the matches having significant importance in the race for qualification through the ICC Women’s Championship. However, the scheduling overlap means she will miss Birmingham Phoenix’s opening two matches in The Hundred, scheduled for July 24 and July 26, as the ODI series concludes on July 28 in Hambantota.After the final ODI, Sana is expected to travel directly to England and join Birmingham Phoenix before their third match. As a result, he will not feature in Pakistan’s three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, which begins on July 31.Sana’s signing with Birmingham Phoenix is ​​a significant milestone for Pakistan women’s cricket as she becomes the first Pakistani cricketer to earn a contract in The Hundred. She was selected by Birmingham Phoenix during The Hundred wildcard draft with a minimum salary of £15,000, taking up an overseas post that became available after Lucy Hamilton retired from Cricket Australia.
Birmingham Phoenix Women’s Roster 2026
| Player | Role | Signature Status / Category |
|---|---|---|
| Ellyse Perry (C) | All-rounder | Withheld (Overseas – Australia) |
| Alice Capsey | All-rounder | Direct Signature / Withheld |
| Lauren Filer | Bowler | Direct Signature / Withheld |
| Tammy Beaumont | Opening Batter | Acquired at auction |
| Linsey Smith | Bowler | Acquired at auction |
| Alana King | Bowling Allrounder | Acquired at auction (Overseas – Australia) |
| Emma Lamb | All-rounder | Acquired at auction |
| Davina Perrin | Battery of the first order | Acquired at auction |
| Cordelia Griffith | Battery of the first order | Acquired at auction |
| Eva Gray | Bowler | Acquired at auction |
| Phoebe Brett | Bowler | Acquired at auction |
| Jemima Spence | Wicketkeeper-Batter | Acquired at auction |
| Esmae MacGregor | Bowler | Acquired at auction |
| Annerie Dercksen | All-rounder | Acquired at auction (Overseas – South Africa) |
| Eve O’Neill | Bowler | Acquired at auction |
| Fatima Sana | All-rounder | Vitality Wildcard Draft (Overseas – Pakistan) |
| Maria Taylor | All-rounder | Vitality Wildcard Draft |
| Lucy Hamilton | All-rounder | Retired (Overseas – Australia) |
