Women's World T20 2016
March 23, 2016
A window into Pakistan Women's bonhomie
Pakistan Women's side is full of free-spirited individuals who revel in
each other's company, and they are out to have fun and make the most of
exposure on the big stage
Pakistan Women are a tight-knit unit, courtesy their love for the game
A peppy Bollywood number plays in the Pakistan Women dressing room as
they wind up training on a hot day at the Air Force Sports Complex in
Palam. The players have been put through the paces for a better part of
the last two hours. Batting, fielding drills, high catches, bowling, and
stretching exercises. Suddenly, a squeaky voice asks, "Yen gaana kisne bajaaya (who played this song)."
The attention turns to the song. Some members like it, others don't.
Some are too tired to walk back in to change it; there are others who
jump at the opportunity. Some disagree, some laugh. Finally they give
in. The song plays.
All along, there's leg-pulling, banter, dance, laughter, conversations, chai, and more. Above all, the camaraderie within the squad is one of a happy family. In another corner, Sana Mir the captain, is busy preparing for her second batting stint. A member of their support staff jokes: "Chai, wai rakho. Ab, aapko bowling karna padega (leave the tea aside, you'll have to go and bowl)." There's laughter again.
It's a group of free-spirited individuals revelling in each other's
company, pulling each other at every step. If one drops a catch, there's
someone with a "koi nai yaar, agle baar le lena. ("doesn't matter,
catch the next one)." A small injury at training, and the entire team
rallies around the player. The concern is genuine.
"It was always there, but we all saw injury, it was , we were all shocked initially,
says. Her team-mates describe Javeria as the "most fun-loving" and they
miss her. The camaraderie and warmth is visible not just on the field,
but also in little things like choosing of seats in the bus, controlling
of playlists, and bowling order at the nets.
Unlike the men, there is no weight of history, no chaos, no talks of
having to beat India at any cost. Pakistan Women have beaten India Women
twice at ICC events. There are no talks of being cornered tigers, no
pressure of expectations or reputations to live up to. The team knows
while they are no world beaters, they are out to have fun and make the
most of the exposure and opportunity to play on the big stage, on live
television.
While they look to win, they are also sensible enough to understand a
loss isn't the end of the world, as cricket, for most, was almost an
afterthought, not because they didn't like the game, but because
circumstances forced them to rethink. Some took the game like fish to
water; other developed their love in the quest to "do something
different."
Picture this. their Player of the Match in the first two games, wasn't even born when Imran Khan lifted the World Cup in 1992 Sibling rivalry and admiration for Daniel Vettori got her to copy his
action, and eventually refine it to where it is today. Mir, the captain,
was told by her parents: "There are way too many doctors and engineers
in Pakistan, do something different." Drawing inspiration from the 1992
triumph, she did and has been the undisputed leader for the last seven
years.
Anam Amin was named Player of the Match in Pakistan Women's first two matches at the World T20 © IDI/Getty Images
Anam Amin was named Player of the Match in Pakistan Women's first two matches at the World T20 © IDI/Getty Images
Maroof wasn't even sure if she wanted to play cricket, for academics was
her "kind of thing" until she watched a Saeed Anwar cover drive as a
10-year old. At 15, she made the national team. Nida Dar's parents
didn't want their daughter playing a "rough and tough" game with the
boys. Then there is Diana Baig
one of the youngest in the group, who was a javelin thrower, a shot
putter, also a twin international - having played football for the
national team. Cricket for them isn't life, they say, only a part of
life. Mir believes her team is a microcosm of the modern-day Pakistani
women, who are making a name for themselves in different spheres back
home.
But when they combine as one, the team is a tight-knit unit, courtesy
the love for the game. "Not just on the field, off it too," Maroof says.
They are all good friends; there is no senior-junior divide. "Aapne
deka hoga (you must have seen)," she reminds. "This time we have
massively enjoyed the tour of India. We have had a chance to see more of
the country. It's tough to get off days in the middle of a hectic
tournament, but we made the most of it."
"This time" is the operative word, for things were far different when
they visited India for the World Cup in 2013. Political tensions forced
their matches to be moved out of Mumbai. Threats from a local political
outfit forced the entire team to be lodged inside the Barabati Stadium
complex in Cuttack. "That was tough, it was difficult for us as a team,"
Maroof recalls. "But it feels so long ago. Not just as a team, even as
individuals we have come a long way. Now the younger players coming
through are a lot more confident and trendy."
So what kind of things have they been up to? While Australia, New
Zealand and England have focused on recoveries through pool session and
ice baths, the Pakistan women enjoyed the sights and sounds of Delhi. Of
course the security protocols had to be followed, but there was a sense
of freedom, which they haven't always had in India for various reasons.
At the India Gate, they posed for "groupfies," enjoyed "kaala khattas" (ice lollies) and pani puris,
(street snack) then went on a bus ride to Humayun's tomb, Rashtrapathi
Bhawan, enjoyed street shopping in Old Delhi, took time off to enjoy the
colours of Dilli Haat and even attended a fashion show, that was
attended by a few film stars.
"The colour, the music, the festivities, it's so much like Lahore,"
Maroof says. What she doesn't is, how they were given front row seats,
after word spread around that they were members of the Pakistan Women
team. "There were requests for photos too, it feels different because we
don't always get that kind of recognition."
What are their takeaways from the India tour? "Oh, the support of the
crowd. 7000 people, I have never played in front of those many ever,"
Maroof gushes. "Delhi was special, fans wanted India to win but the
applause after we won was amazing. The moment we returned to our hotel,
our phones started buzzing. I can't remember the number of calls or
messages I would have received from back home.
"Even those who hasn't seen us play back home were glued to their
televisions." She doesn't allow you to interrupt, the excitement and joy
palpable in her voice. "Even in Chennai
in our first game, they rooted for us. We had only heard about the
crowd support there, but to witness it was something else. We didn't
expect it."
Maroof's sentiment is somewhat reflective of how the Women's World T20
in India has been a joy ride for the team. A maiden semi-final
appearance, which is very much in their sights, could become a reality
if they beat Bangladesh on Thursday. "England too, the India win has
made us confident," Maroof says. The feeling resonates in the camp as
well.
