Women cricketers awarded central contracts

Asian Games gold forces breakthrough, PCB awards central contracts to women cricketers for the first time.

KARACHI: For the first time in Pakistan’s history, the women cricketers have been awarded central contracts, a month after winning the Asian Games gold.

While details of the contracts, to be awarded on January 1, have not been issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), a board spokesperson said that they would be similar to the contracts of the male team: yearly and with separate categories.

The team was the first to win gold for Pakistan in the event that took place last month in China and was Pakistan’s first gold in eight years.

“We’ve been asking the PCB for it and they’ve finally recognised our efforts,” captain Sana Mir told The Express Tribune. “Now the girls can think of taking it as a profession because they’re getting paid and their hard work is paying dividends too although the biggest thing is that they’re representing the country.”

However, Mir admitted that progress still needs to be made in Pakistan’s women’s cricket, but central contracts were crucial. “We’re still working on getting cricket grounds like in Lahore. But this was the most essential step. Now the girls will be more motivated to join women’s cricket and perform better as well.”

Team manager Ayesha Ashar felt that central contracts paved the way for more progress for the female cricketers and the improvement in facilities led to better performance by the team and hence the contracts.

“Many facilities weren’t available in the past,” said Ashar. “But when facilities improved, the team improved. They now have to prove themselves further.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24^th, 2010.