Women's cricket: ‘Long way to go for us’

Women's cricket chief admits to flaws and inexperience.

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Women’s Wing Chairperson Bushra Aitzaz has acknowledged that since women’s cricket has been recognised in the country following the Asian Games gold, the ‘real test’ has begun.

“Women’s approach towards the game has changed and that has helped us,” Bushra told The Express Tribune.

“There was a time when nobody was taking the game seriously but with the Asian Games gold, it has gained a lot of popularity.”

Pakistan finished sixth in the Women’s World Cup last year, losing the rankings play-off to West Indies.

It was only the second time Pakistan had been represented at a World Cup, losing all its matches in 1997.

The team lost all its matches at the 2010 World Twenty20. It also  lost two places in the rankings – fell from sixth to eighth – after the Women’s Cricket Challenge held in South Africa.However, the performance in China allowed Pakistan to end the year on a high.

“We still have a long way to go before we get into the top three or five in the world. I don’t feel the team is mature enough yet. We have to play more and more cricket to get more exposure.”

Bushra admitted that flaws at the grass-root level were holding the game back but vowed to improve the standard.

“With time, the perception of the game among women will be the same as men. We have the potential and the ability to improve and we’re working towards that.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2010.