Trailblazing former captain honoured alongside global legends at WTC final ceremony
KARACHI: In a historic achievement for Pakistan, former women’s cricket captain Sana Mir became the first female cricketer from the country to be inducted into the prestigious ICC Hall of Fame.
The announcement was made during a special ceremony ahead of the World Test Championship final. Mir was one of seven new inductees unveiled by West Indies legend Ian Bishop, joining the 2025 class that includes MS Dhoni, Sarah Taylor, Hashim Amla, Graeme Smith, Matthew Hayden, and Daniel Vettori.
Pakistan’s record-breaking all-rounder
Sana Mir, an off-spinning all-rounder, represented Pakistan from 2005 to 2019. She led a transformative era in women’s cricket, setting multiple records and breaking barriers for future generations. In 2018, she became the first Pakistani woman to top the ICC ODI bowling rankings.
She remains Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker in women’s ODIs with 151 dismissals and was the first Asian woman to play 100 T20Is. As captain for eight years, she guided the national team to two Asian Games gold medals and led them in five T20 and two ODI World Cups.
Milestone moments and global recognition
Under Mir’s leadership, Pakistan earned its first-ever ODI win over South Africa and qualified for the 2017 World Cup Super Sixes. Her standout 5/14 performance against Scotland remains one of her most memorable feats.
Reacting to the honour, Mir said, “From dreaming as a little girl that one day there would even be a women’s team in our country to now standing here, inducted among the legends I idolised — this is a moment I couldn’t have dared to imagine.”
A legacy beyond the field
Sana Mir retired in 2019, not only as one of Pakistan’s most decorated athletes but also as a strong voice for women’s sports and mental health. Her induction makes her the eighth Pakistani cricketer in the ICC Hall of Fame, joining icons like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, and Javed Miandad.
