Fatima Sana creates history with Birmingham Phoenix deal in The Hundred

Another Pakistan international cricketer secured a contract ahead of the 2026 season of The Hundred league. This time, it is Pakistan’s women’s cricket team captain Fatima Sana, who has officially joined the league franchise Birmingham Phoenix.

She landed the contract after an impressive all-rounder performance in the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. Against South Africa, Women, Sana top-scored with 55 not out off 38 balls from No. 8, then took 3 for 16 at Edgbaston.

Fatima Sana will play for the Birmingham Phoenix

Though her efforts went in vain, as Pakistan lost to South Africa. Edgbaston is the home ground of the Birmingham Phoenix team in The Hundred. Fatima Sana has joined the English team through the wildcard draft on Thursday.

With the deal, she has now become the first Pakistani player to feature in the women’s Hundred. Fatima Sana will join the franchise as their fourth overseas recruit after the Australian cricketer Lucy Hamilton’s exit. Cricket Australia asked Hamilton to vacate his place in the squad as his workload would be managed.

Sana’s participation in The Hundred is in doubt

After Usman Tariq and Abrar Ahmed, Fatima Sana has joined the league as the third player from Pakistan. Tariq will play for the Birmingham Phoenix, and Ahmed will play for the Sunrisers Leeds in the men’s Hundred league this year.

Phoenix secures the signing of the Pakistan all-rounder for a minimum salary of £15,000. However, her participation in the league will be under concern because of her commitments to the Pakistan national cricket team.

“Sana will earn the Hundred’s minimum salary – £15,000 (5.6 million PKR approx.), though her availability may be limited by Pakistan’s scheduled tour to Sri Lanka (which runs from July 23 to August 4),” according to an ESPNCricinfo report.

Full list of players (Men’s and Women’s who join The Hundred through wildcard draft):

Women’s Hundred wildcards (£15,000)

London Spirit: Trudy Johnson, Liv Barnes

Birmingham Phoenix: Mary Taylor, Fatima Sana

The Manchester Super Giants: Mia Rogers, Beth Langston

Southern Brave: Naomi Dattani, Katherine Fraser

Welsh Fire: Niamh Fiona Holland, Georgia Davis

MI London: Kate Coppack, Francesca Sweet

Trent Rockets: Amu Surenkumar, Eve Jones

Sunrisers Leeds: Darcey Carter, Sophia Turner

Men’s Hundred wildcards (£31,000)

London Spirit: Henry Crocombe, Kiran Carlson

The Manchester Super Giants: James Sales, Adam Finch

Welsh Fire: Jordan Clark, Dillon Pennington

Trent Rockets: Ben Raine, Ben Sanderson

MI London: Eddie Jack, Sebastian Morgan

Birmingham Phoenix: Tom Helm, Sean Dickson

Sunrisers Leeds: Matty Revis, Charlie Allison

Southern Brave: Manny Lumsden, Saif Zaib

Along with Sana, two other players from the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup have earned their spots in the upcoming The Hundred league for Women. Scotland openers Darcey Carter and Katherine Fraser were signed by Sunrisers Leeds and Southern Brave, respectively, through the wildcard draft. Both of the players have joined their respective franchises as local players.

While the men’s cricketers joined the league for a basic price tag of £31,000, the basic price tag for the Women’s cricketers segment was £15,000.