Between the wickets: Pakistan lacks a sporting culture, says Sana Mir

Cricketer says she is beholden to sports for everything.

LAHORE: Pakistan women’s cricket team captain Sana Mir on Friday bemoaned the lack of a sporting culture in Pakistan. She was speaking at the Children’s Literature Festival. Mir regaled the audience with anecdotes from her childhood and her professional life. The 28-year-old began her session by engaging children in a fun-filled cricketing activity. She said children could not be blamed for showing a lack of interest in sport as there was no sporting culture in the nation. Mir asked them whether they had sports facilities at schools. She also asked girls whether they were interested in cricket.

Mir expressed concern over schools without playgrounds that prevented them from engaging in sporting activities. She said she had a soft corner for institutions that stressed the role of sports as she was beholden to it. Mir stressed the importance of engaging in sporting activities as they inculcate discipline and unity among children in addition to being beneficial for health.

She said Pakistan had great potential but it had been unable to harness it properly. Mir said it was imperative for the youth to get exposed to different cultures to promote understanding and tolerance.

She said a cricket-tour of India had played a pivotal role in broadening her horizon in this regard. Mir said initiatives like this were crucial as they made one realise about the presence of good people world-wide.

She shared with the children anecdotes regarding testing times she had faced in her professional life with the children. Mir said she had been compelled to abandon her education to pursue cricket full-time. She said those who persevered were destined to be successful.

Mir said her brother had supported her through thick and thin. She said people used to get startled when they saw her playing in the streets. Mir said her brother had unflinchingly supported her during those times. She said professional women should conduct themselves in a befitting manner to inspire the younger generation to pursue their interests professionally with the blessings of their parents.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2014.