By Fazal Khaliq
SWAT: The inaugural women’s cricket team in Swat has been presented with cricket bats and other essential equipment courtesy of Malala Yousafzai and her husband Asser Malik to foster cricket among women in rural areas of the nation.
They told MP about an event when Malala Yousafzai and her husband, Asser Malik, gifted the girls cricket bats, batting pads, gloves, and other equipment.
Malala Yousafzai and Asser Malik conveyed to MP over the phone that upon learning about the challenges Swat’s inaugural women’s cricket team faced regarding the shortage of equipment and suitable grounds, they felt compelled to assist them by supplying standard gear. “After holding an online Zoom meeting with the team and understanding their requirements, we resolved to furnish them with professional bats and kit bags,” they explained. Emphasizing their commitment to advancing women’s sports, they expressed satisfaction in witnessing the emergence of professional cricket among girls in Swat.
Ayesha Ayaz, the youngest Pakistani taekwondo national champion and international athlete who attended the event, expressed her and her father’s support for the women cricketers. However, they needed more professional equipment. “We’re grateful to Malala and her husband for recognizing this issue and providing the necessary cricket gear,” she informed MP.
Robi, a batswoman who draws inspiration from Shahid Afridi in international cricket, shared her passion for aggressive play but lamented the absence of a proper professional bat. “I’m thrilled to possess an international standard bat now. With it, I’m confident I can send the ball soaring beyond the boundaries,” she enthusiastically conveyed to MP.
Likewise, Captain Muskan and all-rounder Marjan expressed the collective joy of the women players upon receiving the cricket equipment. They emphasized that this provision meant they would no longer rely on nearby men’s cricket clubs for bats and other gear during matches. “Previously, we often borrowed equipment from men’s clubs for our matches. Now, with our bats and gear, we can practice and compete more effectively,” they shared with MP.
They expressed gratitude towards Malala and her husband for supplying the equipment. However, they underscored the necessity for a dedicated practice field where they could train safely and without interruption from men. “The government and sports department should allocate a suitable practice ground for us. Even if it’s small, it should be enclosed by a wall to facilitate our regular cricket practice,” emphasized Ghazala, a young club player.
Laster in October residents and clerics in had barred girls in Swat’s Charbagh cricket ground from playing cricket at the tehsil’s stadium, saying that women’s participation in sports was considered “immodest” and “inappropriate” in the locality.
However, after the incident the district administration arranged a match for them in Kabal tehsil.
