LONDON (Kashmir English): Pakistan women’s cricket team captain Fatima Sana has become the first Pakistani women cricketer to be signed in The Hundred by the Birmingham Phoenix.
As per details, Birmingham Phoenix have included Fatima Sana in their team in the wild card draft held on Thursday after she was overlooked in the original tournament auction in March.
The all-rounder was drafted in the fourth overseas squad spot that became available after Australian player Lucy Hamilton withdrew after receiving a central contract by Australia.
Fatima Sana is the third Pakistani cricketer to be signed to The Hundred this year. Usman Tariq has signed with Birmingham Phoenix, while spinner Abrar Ahmed was signed by Sunrisers Leeds for £190,000 in the March auction.
The Hundred, which starts in England on July 21, had been embroiled in controversy after reports that Indian investment into the competition would lead to a silent ban on Pakistan players being selected.
It should be noted that the current season of The Hundred will be the first edition of the tournament in which private investors will have partial or full ownership of various franchises.
Two Pakistan players signed
Earlier in March, two players, Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq, were signed from the pool of Pakistan players during The Hundred auction 2026 held at Piccadilly Lights in London.
Birmingham Phoenix secured Tariq for £140,000 (PKR 5.32 crore), making him the first Pakistan player signed in the tournament. On the other hand, the Indian-owned team Sunrisers Leeds successfully bought mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed for £190,000 (PKR 7.12 crore).
However, Pacer Haris Rauf, all-rounder Shadab Khan, and batter Saim Ayub went unsold in their respective rounds.
Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi withdrew from The Hundred auction, just hours before bidding was set to begin. Other players pulled out at the last minute ahead of the auction, including Quinton de Kock, Sunil Narine, AM Ghazanfar, and Peter Siddle.
The signing of spinner Abrar Ahmed ended concerns that Pakistan players would be ignored by franchises affiliated to the Indian Premier League (IPL) or owned by Indian nationals.
