Baggy green trousers and long shirts have long been the distinctive feature of Pakistan women cricket team but all this slowly changing. Despite facing strong opposition from all spheres of a conservative society all during 1990s, this team has come a long way to eventually claim Gold at Asian games 2010. Many things have in favor of the team since winning the gold and people who once opposed women in any sport have now come to admire the team and young girls see their ideals in players.
Pakistan women cricket team may not be the strongest in the women cricket but they do have a strong appetite to win every game they play. Pakistan is one of total eight teams participating in WWC-2013 scheduled to be held in Mumbai from 31 January. Pakistan is part of group B with Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Pakistan has only competed in WWC twice prior to its current edition and their best performance was claiming the 6th spot in 2009. PCB and the players themselves are hopeful for a much better performance this year.
Unfortunately, cricket is not the only thing Pakistan team has to worry about in India. Mumbai has always been the center of Hindu extremist faction “Shiv Sena.” In view of the recent tensions along the Kashmir border, these extremists have opposed the visit of Pakistan women team and threatened to interrupt the event. Shiv Sena has a long history of using sports and other cultural events involving Pakistan to gain cheap popularity. Previously, Shiv Sena destroyed a pitch at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium in 1991 and Feroz Shah Kotla Grounds in New Delhi in 1999 on similar grounds. Mr. Bal Thackeray has once again victimized cricket to gain political grounds. ICC has been forced to shift the matches of Pakistan Team from Mumbai to Cuttack, Odisha.
Despite all the drama involving politics and Shiv Sena, Pakistan team is more than willing to participate in the event and morale in the dressing room is souring as the tournament draws near. As per the captain Sana Mir “All the members are focusing on one thing only and that is cricket.” This positive attitude from players coupled with strong support from PCB and prayers from Pakistani nation, the team is bound to succeed during the tournament. They may not lift the trophy but their participation and positive approach towards the tournament is a strong indicator that Women Cricket in Pakistan is bound to reach new heights in ties to come.
