"This is for every girl who picks up a bat or a ball": Sana Mir on her ICC Hall of Fame inclusion

Former Pakistan women’s cricket captain Sana Mir has expressed heartfelt gratitude after her historic induction into the ICC Hall of Fame.

In a post on X, Mir offered a glimpse into her journey from a young girl who once merely wished for the existence of a women's cricket team in Pakistan to now being celebrated among the sport's greatest figures.

“My first reaction when I got to know about this honour: Alhamdulillah,” she wrote. “Playing cricket for Pakistan was always the greatest reward in itself.”

Her induction marks more than personal achievement; it represents a pivotal moment for women’s sports in Pakistan. In a landscape historically dominated by male athletes and male cricketing icons, Mir’s recognition serves as both validation and inspiration for the next generation of female cricketers who have often faced societal barriers, lack of institutional support, and scarce opportunities.

“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 once couldn’t have dared to imagine,” she wrote.

Mir extended gratitude to the ICC panel for the honour, adding that she intends to uphold it “with the same grit that brought me here.”

Her message resonated beyond her individual success, highlighting the collective struggle and spirit of women breaking barriers in various fields.

“Tonight is not just mine. This is for every girl who picks up a bat or a ball in a street where they’re told cricket isn’t ‘for them’. For every woman who defies expectations, whether on the pitch, in their homes, or in any space where dreams are told to wait, keep claiming your place in this world. Our journeys are never easy, but they are possible.”

She also acknowledged the people who supported her throughout her career. “To my teammates, my coaches and my family — thank you for turning my dream into a fight worth fighting,” she wrote, before ending with a heartfelt tribute to the country she represented. “And to Pakistan, thank you for letting me wear your colours. The best is yet to come, InshaAllah.”

Mir’s achievements on the field have long made her a trailblazer. She topped the ICC Women’s ODI bowling rankings in 2018 and captained the team to gold medals at the Asian Games in 2010 and 2014. Her rise coincided with growing opportunities for women in sports in Pakistan, where, until the early 2000s, many were not even permitted to play in public spaces.