Sana will still be leading Pakistan in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka but will not feature in the T20I leg of the series as she has been released to join Birmingham Phoenix.

As an ICC Women's Championship event, the series against Pakistan is one of the ICC's priority assignments. Sana will be with the team throughout the 50-over series and will fly directly from Hambantota to England after the final ODI on 28 July.

This will preclude her from being available for the T20I series against Sri Lanka. However, she is expected to come into contention for Birmingham Phoenix after that, as she has missed just the first two games of the Women's Hundred.

Historic Women's Hundred Deal Marks New Milestone

Just last month, Fatima Sana created history by becoming the first-ever Pakistan women's cricketer to sign a Women's Hundred contract.

Birmingham Phoenix secured the 24-year-old, who was picked through the wildcard draft in the competition to fill the void left by erstwhile Australian all-rounder Lucy Hamilton. Sana feels that it is another milestone in her ever-growing career and one more step on her journey in the game on the international level.

ESPNcricinfo says the PCB ratified her entry so the Pakistan captain could take part in one of the biggest women's franchise tournaments in world cricket.

Excellent T20 World Cup Form Earns Reward

Sana has led Pakistan into the tournament on the back of her best all-round efforts in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, where Pakistan could only manage a solitary win; Sana was excellent with both ball and bat.

She finished the tournament as the highest wicket-taker among speed bowlers with 11 wickets at a bowling economy rate of 6.95, and was joint second-highest wicket-taker overall, with 11 wickets being levelled by Australia captain Sophie Molineux. India's N. Shree Charani was the highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets.

One of Sana's best hits was against South Africa, where she scored an important 55* off 38 balls, before finishing with a superb 3/16 to almost help Pakistan to a historic victory.

The Women's Hundred will be the third franchise event overseas in Sana's career. She has previously played for Barbados Royals in the Women's Caribbean Premier League in 2022 before playing for Canterbury Magicians in New Zealand during the Women's Super Smash in the 2023-24 season.

Having secured yet another overseas assignment, Sana is further cementing himself as one of Pakistan's most important batters while gaining experience for years to come.