Sana Mir rings Lord’s bell

LAHORE: Former Pakistan women’s cricket team captain and recent ICC Hall of Fame inductee, Sana Mir, was accorded a distinguished honour on Thursday as she rang the iconic Lord’s bell, marking the official start of play on day two of the World Test Championship (WTC) final between Australia and South Africa.

The ceremonial bell ringing, a cherished tradition at the ‘Home of Cricket’ since 2007, is performed by a notable former player to signal the commencement of daily play in a Test match. Mir’s presence at the hallowed venue was met with warm applause from cricketers, officials, and spectators alike, symbolizing not only her personal cricketing excellence but also the growing recognition of women’s influence in the sport.

Just days after becoming the first Pakistani woman cricketer to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, Mir’s latest honour at Lord’s further cemented her legacy. Her induction celebrated an outstanding career spanning nearly 15 years, during which she represented Pakistan in 226 matches and captained the side in over a hundred fixtures, establishing herself as a true trailblazer for women’s cricket in the country. She is only the 14th female cricketer globally and the eighth Pakistani overall to join this elite list, placing her alongside legends like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, and Javed Miandad.