Fatima Sana will become the first Pakistan player to feature in the women's Hundred this year after she was signed by Birmingham Phoenix in Thursday's wildcard draft, ESPNcricinfo can reveal.
Sana, the Pakistan allrounder and captain, has filled the Phoenix's fourth overseas spot which was vacated when Cricket Australia withdrew Lucy Hamilton to manage her workload. Sana will earn the Hundred's minimum salary - £15,000 (5.6 million PKR approx.), though her availability may be limited by Pakistan's scheduled tour to Sri Lanka (which runs from July 23 to August 4).
Her selection comes the morning after her stellar all-round performance in Pakistan's defeat to South Africa at Edgbaston, the Phoenix's home ground. Sana top-scored with 55 not out off 38 balls from No. 8, then took 3 for 16 as South Africa snuck home with two wickets in hand.
Sana is the third Pakistan player with a contract to play in the Hundred this year. She joins Usman Tariq at the Phoenix, while mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed is due to play for Sunrisers Leeds after he was signed for £190,000 at March's auction, assuaging concerns that Pakistan players would be 'shadow-banned' by the Hundred's new Indian investors.
The Phoenix confirmed Sana's signing on Thursday afternoon. "Signing Fatima Sana is a real statement of intent," James Thomas, their performance director, said. "She is Pakistan's captain, an international-class pace bowler and a brilliant replacement for Lucy Hamilton, who is unavailable due to her Australia commitments."
Two other players involved in the Women's T20 World Cup earned deals in Thursday's wildcard draft, which saw each franchise sign two men's and two women's players on the minimum salary to complete their squads; Scotland openers Darcey Carter and Katherine Fraser were signed by Sunrisers Leeds and Southern Brave respectively, and both qualify as local players.
In the men's Hundred, notable picks included London Spirit signing Sussex's Henry Crocombe - who was recently called up to England's Test squad as fast-bowling cover - and MI London picking young fast bowlers Eddie Jack and Seb Morgan. Manny Lumsden, another recent England Under-19s quick, was signed by Southern Brave.
The Hundred runs from July 21 to August 16 this summer, which is the first season since private investors assumed partial or full control of franchises following the sale of stakes in teams early last year.
Men's Hundred wildcards (£31,000)
Welsh Fire: Jordan Clark, Dillon Pennington
Southern Brave: Manny Lumsden, Saif Zaib
The Manchester Super Giants: James Sales, Adam Finch
London Spirit: Henry Crocombe, Kiran Carlson
Birmingham Phoenix: Tom Helm, Sean Dickson
MI London: Eddie Jack, Sebastian Morgan
Sunrisers Leeds: Matty Revis, Charlie Allison
Trent Rockets: Ben Raine, Ben Sanderson.
Women's Hundred wildcards (£15,000)
Birmingham Phoenix: Mary Taylor, Fatima Sana
Welsh Fire: Niamh Fiona Holland, Georgia Davis
London Spirit: Trudy Johnson, Liv Barnes
Trent Rockets: Amu Surenkumar, Eve Jones
The Manchester Super Giants: Mia Rogers, Beth Langston
MI London: Kate Coppack, Francesca Sweet
Southern Brave: Naomi Dattani, Katherine Fraser
Sunrisers Leeds: Darcey Carter, Sophia Turner.