Dubai — Sana Mir, the pioneering former captain of Pakistan’s women’s cricket team, has been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame — becoming the first Pakistani woman to receive this honour.
The announcement was made during a special ceremony ahead of the World Test Championship final, where cricketing legends from across the globe were celebrated. Alongside Mir, the 2025 inductees included MS Dhoni, Sarah Taylor, Hashim Amla, Graeme Smith, Matthew Hayden, and Daniel Vettori.
Breaking Boundaries
Mir’s cricketing journey began in 2005 and spanned 226 international matches. She captained Pakistan for eight years, leading the team to two Asian Games gold medals in 2010 and 2014. Under her leadership, Pakistan made its mark on the global stage, competing in five ICC Women’s T20 World Cups and two ICC Women’s Cricket World Cups.
She holds the record for the most ODI wickets by a Pakistani woman (151) and was the first Asian woman to play 100 T20 internationals. In 2018, Mir became the first Pakistani woman to top the ICC ODI bowling rankings.
Reflecting on her milestone, 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 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.”
“I am incredibly grateful for this honour and hope to give back to the sport in any way I can,” she added.
Leadership On and Off the Field
Mir’s leadership was pivotal in raising the profile of women’s cricket in Pakistan. Notable achievements under her captaincy include Pakistan’s first ODI victory over South Africa and qualification for the Super Sixes of the 2017 World Cup, where her match-winning 5 for 14 against Scotland stood out.
Beyond her playing career, Mir has been a strong advocate for women’s rights, mental health awareness, and body positivity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she actively supported community initiatives and spoke out on important social issues.
Her impact was also recognised domestically, with a stand at the Bugti Stadium in Quetta named in her honour — a symbol of her lasting influence on the game and its future stars.
“From playing street cricket in Pakistan to this moment today, it’s been an incredible journey,” Mir said during the induction ceremony. “This is a very emotional moment for me.”
A Lasting Legacy
With her induction, Mir joins an elite group of Pakistani cricketers in the Hall of Fame, including Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Javed Miandad, Abdul Qadir, Hanif Mohammad, and Zaheer Abbas.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah praised the new inductees, saying, “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.”
Mir’s journey — from the streets of Pakistan to the global stage — continues to inspire a new generation of girls to dream big and pursue cricket at the highest level.