The Pakistan Baseball Federation (PBF) Secretary Pervaiz Shah Khawar said forming a national women’s side was not a viable option and lack of competition among the female players has forced the body to solely invest in their male counterparts.
Pakistan staged the men’s South West Asia Cup, a qualifier for the Asian Championship, and the hosts won the trophy, forcing the PBF to place its emphasis and resources in improving the male team’s performance. However, Khawar said a national event should be sufficient for the female players.
“We’ve been holding the women’s national championship for the last four years but never really formed a national team,” Khawar told The Express Tribune. “Only provincial teams participate in the women’s event and their game is not up to the mark. Therefore, the federation has decided to stick with one national championship a year, which should be enough for exposure.”
While Pakistan is yet to participate in an international women’s event, Khawar said that the South Korean coach Hwang Hoon Dong will be asked to prepare a programme for the development of their game by next year.
A reason, attributed to the lack of talent in the women’s baseball camp, has been their unfamiliarity with cricket skills. But Anila Rana, who plays for Punjab University, said that the PBF needed to take a leaf out of the women’s cricket team success that saw them clinch the Asian Games in 2010.
“I have participated in all the women national championships but it’s frustrating because I know the game isn’t headed anywhere,” said Rana. “I’m hoping that the federation would at least make an effort to form a national side. The PBF should see how the women’s cricket team made a mark in the Asian Games.
“We’re also capable of bringing the same glory to the country.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 5th, 2012.
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