Women’s cricket: Breaking new grounds

Qualification, landmarks mark Pakistan’s ascent.

LAHORE: Pakistan’s recent success in Bangladesh, where it qualified for next year’s World Twenty20 as well as the 2013 World Cup, not only brought them an added bout of laurels but also recognition, admiration, support and a maiden One-Day International (ODI) century.

The team’s struggles continued for almost 15 years since its inception, registering a maiden  win in its 19th ODI but qualified for a second successive World Cup after finishing runners-up in Bangladesh.

Pakistan also won gold at the Asian Games last year and with Nida Dar scoring a century in the World Cup qualifiers – where Pakistan lost just two matches including the final – the team now takes on their opponents with hopes of winning every match instead of waiting for a miracle to happen.

“Lack of opportunities remained the biggest hindrance to our hopes of progressing,” Dar told The Express Tribune. “A girl playing cricket openly is still unacceptable in our society. We get only a few days’ worth of practice before an event because we can’t practice in the open.

“As for the century, I hadn’t gone into the match planning for that. I was just looking to stay in the middle for 50 overs. I can’t express the feelings when I finally reached that landmark.”

Meanwhile, team captain Sana Mir praised the efforts of the coaching staff for the twin qualifications.

“A plan is nothing if you can’t execute it well,” said Mir.

“The coach has worked on the plans according to our potential and thankfully the team clicked and produced the results.”

Pakistan’s team management underwent a slight reshuffle prior to the qualifying event — coach Mansoor Rana was replaced by Mohtashim Rashid while long-standing manager Ayesha Ashar was also relieved of her duties.

Former team manager Azhar Zaidi pointed out that the team’s confidence lay with its morale that could only be boosted by encouragement and recognition.

“If you want these girls to go a long way, you need to support them,” he said.

“They have to play under pressure because of the reaction they get from certain parts of society and if they get over this hurdle, who knows what miracles they can perform.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2011.