Sana Mir becomes first Pakistani woman cricketer to earn ICC Hall of Fame honor

Former Pakistan women's team captain Sana Mir made history on Monday by becoming the first female cricketer from Pakistan to be inducted into the International Cricket Council (ICC) Hall of Fame.

Mir, who topped the ICC Women's One Day International (ODI) bowling rankings in 2018, also led the national team to gold medals at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games.

Her rise in international cricket coincided with a broader opening of sporting opportunities for Pakistani women, who were largely restricted from playing in open fields until the early 2000s.

Since making her debut in 2005, Sana Mir has played 226 international matches, becoming one of only nine women in ODI history to score over 1,000 runs and take 100 wickets in ODI matches, a rare all-round milestone.

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Under her leadership, Pakistan participated in two Women’s Cricket World Cups and five T20 World Cups, significantly raising the team’s profile on the global stage.

Adding to her accolades, she took 200 international wickets in white-ball cricket.

“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 was quoted as saying by the ICC.

“I am incredibly grateful for this honour and hope to give back to the sport in any way I can. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my teammates, coaches and family for all their support over the years,” she added. 

Mir was one of seven legendary cricketers inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame this year. The other inductees include MS Dhoni (India), Matthew Hayden (Australia), Daniel Vettori (New Zealand), Sarah Taylor (England), and South Africans Hashim Amla and Graeme Smith.

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The announcement was made during a grand induction ceremony at Abbey Road Studios in London, where ICC Chairman Jay Shah officially welcomed the new members.

Speaking on the occasion, Shah said, “Through the ICC Hall of Fame, we pay tribute to the finest players the game has seen, individuals whose remarkable careers have shaped cricket’s legacy and inspired generations.”

He added, “This year, we are privileged to induct seven truly outstanding individuals into this prestigious group. On behalf of the ICC, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to each of them and hope they cherish this well-deserved recognition as a defining moment in their cricketing journey.”