Pakistan PM meets Sana Mir after ICC Hall of Fame induction, hopes she will nurture new talent

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif awards a souvenir to former Pakistan Women Cricket Team captain Sana Mir (left) in Islamabad on June 27, 2025. (PID)
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Updated 28 June 2025
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Pakistan PM meets Sana Mir after ICC Hall of Fame induction, hopes she will nurture new talent

  • A trailblazer for women’s cricket in Pakistan, Mir represented the national team from 2005 to 2019
  • She holds the record for the most wickets by a Pakistani woman in one-day internationals with 151

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday met with former Pakistan Women Cricket Team captain Sana Mir and congratulated her on her induction into the International Cricket Council (ICC) Hall of Fame, Sharif’s office said.

Mir this month became the first woman cricketer from Pakistan to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. She was honored alongside India’s MS Dhoni, England’s Sarah Taylor, South Africa’s Hashim Amla and Graeme Smith, Australia’s Matthew Hayden, and New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori.

PM Sharif appreciated Mir saying that the Pakistan women cricket team achieved significant successes and made Pakistan famous all over the world under her leadership.

“The government is trying to promote talent on the basis of merit in every field of sports. Giving equal opportunities and facilities to men and women in every field of sports, including cricket, is among our priorities,” Sharif was quoted as saying by his office.

“Hopefully, you will play an active role in providing training to new talent in cricket with your experience.”

Mir thanked the prime minister and said she was trying her level best to represent Pakistan fully in the World Cricket Association and the ICC.

She gave suggestions for further promotion of cricket, especially women’s cricket, in Pakistan.

A trailblazer for women’s cricket in Pakistan, Mir represented the national team from 2005 to 2019. She is the eighth Pakistani overall and just the 15th woman globally to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.

She holds the record for the most wickets by a Pakistani woman in one-day internationals with 151 and was the first Asian woman to feature in 100 T20 internationals. In 2018, she became the first Pakistani woman to top the ICC ODI bowling rankings.


Pakistan PM speaks to UAE president, calls for enhanced cooperation

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Pakistan PM speaks to UAE president, calls for enhanced cooperation

  • Shehbaz Sharif lauds UAE’s economic support in challenging times
  • Both leaders discuss a range of issues, agree to stay in close contact

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday praised the United Arab Emirates for what he described as steadfast financial and political support during Islamabad’s recent economic crisis, as both sides signaled plans to deepen bilateral cooperation.

In a statement issued after Sharif spoke with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Prime Minister’s Office said the two leaders discussed matters of mutual interest and agreed to stay in close contact.

“The Prime Minister lauded the UAE’s consistent and unwavering support to Pakistan, that had helped the country navigate through difficult challenges,” the statement said, adding the two leaders “reaffirmed their shared desire to further enhance mutually beneficial cooperation between Pakistan and the UAE.”

The UAE, along with other friendly nations in the region, provided critical financial assistance to the South Asian country during a balance-of-payments crisis that strained Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves and pressured its currency. Islamabad subsequently secured an International Monetary Fund program as part of broader stabilization efforts.

Sharif, in a post on X, described the exchange as positive.

“We fondly recalled our recent meetings and reaffirmed our shared resolve to further strengthen the historic, fraternal ties between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, and to expand mutually beneficial cooperation,” he wrote.

Millions of Pakistanis live and work in the UAE, forming one of the largest expatriate communities in the Gulf state.

Remittances from the UAE rank among Pakistan’s top sources of foreign currency inflows and play a significant role in supporting the country’s external accounts.

UAE-based companies are also investing in Pakistan, helping Islamabad develop its seaports to facilitate regional trade.