Pakistan women’s captain Fatima Sana has been allowed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to miss the T20I portion of the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka to represent Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred, marking a landmark moment in her career. According to Cricinfo, the PCB has given the 24-year-old a No Objection Certificate (NOC), which allows her to prioritize the England tournament while still being available for ODIs in Pakistan.
ODI career first, The Hundred next
Sana will continue to lead Pakistan in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, with the match crucial in the run-up to the ICC Women’s Championship. However, the inclusion means he will miss Birmingham Phoenix’s opening two matches in The Hundred, scheduled for July 24 and July 26, while the ODI series ends on July 28 in Hambantota.After the last ODI, Sana is expected to travel to England and join Birmingham Phoenix ahead of their third game. As a result, he will not be part of Pakistan’s three-match T20I against Sri Lanka, which starts on July 31.Sana’s signing with Birmingham Phoenix is ​​a milestone for Pakistan women’s cricket, as she became the first female Pakistani cricketer to earn a contract in The Hundred. He was selected by Birmingham Phoenix during The Hundred’s wildcard draft for a fee of less than £15,000, taking the overseas spot that became available after Lucy Hamilton was dropped by Cricket Australia.
Birmingham Phoenix Women’s 2026 Roster
| A player | Missiles | Signing Status / Group |
|---|---|---|
| Ellyse Perry (C) | All round | Reserved (Overseas – Australia) |
| Alice Capsey | All round | Direct Signing / Storage |
| Lauren Filer | Bowler | Direct Signing / Storage |
| Tammy Beaumont | Opening Batter | Purchased at Auction |
| Linsey Smith | Bowler | Purchased at Auction |
| Alan King | All Round Bowling | Purchased at Auction (Overseas – Australia) |
| Emma Lamba | All round | Purchased at Auction |
| Davina Perrin | Heavy Strike | Purchased at Auction |
| Cordelia Griffith | Heavy Strike | Purchased at Auction |
| Eva Gray | Bowler | Purchased at Auction |
| Phoebe Brett | Bowler | Purchased at Auction |
| Jemima Spence | Wicketkeeper-Batter | Purchased at Auction |
| Esmae MacGregor | Bowler | Purchased at Auction |
| Annerie Dercksen | All round | Purchased at Auction (Overseas – South Africa) |
| Eve O’Neill | Bowler | Purchased at Auction |
| Fatima Sana | All round | Vitality Wildcard Draft (Overseas – Pakistan) |
| Mary Taylor | All round | Vitality Wildcard Draft |
| Lucy Hamilton | All round | Return (Overseas – Australia) |
