Sana Mir: From a dream to Pakistan’s first woman in the ICC Hall of Fame

Dubai: At a time when women’s cricket was just taking its first steps in Pakistan, Sana Mir stood at the forefront — a symbol of ambition, courage, and the limitless possibilities ahead.

On Monday, that dream found its highest realisation when Mir became the first Pakistani woman to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.

“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 very legends I idolised long before I ever held a bat or a ball — this is a moment I couldn’t have dared to imagine,” Mir said in an ICC statement.

“I am incredibly grateful for this honour and hope to give back to the sport in any way I can.”

It’s a recognition not just of statistics — though she has plenty — but of a journey paved with firsts, resilience, and a relentless belief in what could be.

A veteran of over 100 matches in both white-ball formats, Mir was Pakistan’s first woman to claim 100 ODI wickets. By the end of her 15-year career, she had taken 150 wickets in 121 ODIs and 89 wickets in 106 T20Is, while also scoring over 2,400 international runs.

She captained Pakistan for eight years, winning two Asian Games gold medals in 2010 and 2014. In 2018, she climbed to the top of the ICC ODI bowling rankings — another unprecedented feat for a woman from Pakistan.

That year, she dismantled the world No 1 Australia in a three-match series, taking seven wickets — the most by any bowler across both sides. Her best ODI figures, 5 for 32 against the Netherlands, and T20I figures of 4 for 13 against Ireland, came with her at the helm.

Sana Mir was a force that lifted others. Under her leadership, Pakistan played five ICC Women’s T20 World Cups and two ICC Women’s Cricket World Cups. She mentored teammates, raised standards, and inspired a generation to achieve great deeds on the pitch.

Mir’s contribution extended far beyond the boundary ropes. She was outspoken against body shaming, emphasised mental health, and actively supported communities during the Covid-19 pandemic. She didn’t just play, Mir also emerged as a powerful ambassador for change.

Her influence has become so enduring that a stand at the Bugti Stadium in Quetta now bears her name — an aspiration of girl in Pakistan who has ever picked up a bat or a ball.

Also honoured this year was England’s Sarah Taylor — one of the most elegant and technically brilliant wicketkeepers in the history of the women’s game.

“Being inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame is one of the best moments of my life and truly feels like a dream come true,” said Taylor.

“Women’s cricket has been thriving in recent years, and receiving this award during such a significant time makes it even more special.”

Sana Mir’s career has always been about pushing boundaries — and then walking straight through them. Now, as a Hall of Famer, her story doesn’t end. It only sets the stage for more girls to dream a little bigger — knowing someone like them made it all the way.