May 02, 2008	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 25, 1429

DAMBULLA, May 1: She’s the baby of the team, but as a key member of the squad that helped Pakistan qualify for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009, the Asia Cup is an exciting opportunity for Bismah Maroof to showcase her undoubted talent.

The 15-year-old sees this event, which begins here on Friday, as an excellent build up to next year’s global event. “I’ve learnt a lot from this tournament before and so I will be very happy to beat Sri Lanka and give India some good matches as well,” she says.

Her hero is the now retired Australian great Adam Gilchrist, which is unsurprising given some of the similarities between them.

“I’m left-handed and he’s too, we both open the batting and we both have an aggressive attitude,” she says.

But unlike Gilchrist, there is nothing more she likes to do than entertain her team-mates with her love of dancing to a bhangra beat.

Still at school, where her favourite subject is Mathematics, she loves playing cricket and football games on the computer.

Bismah admits that when she is playing cricket simulator games, she changes her name to Gilchrist and pretends to bat as if she were her Australian hero.

Despite her experience at the international level, it is easy to forget she is still just 15 years old and enjoys being the junior member of the squad. Among the teammates, she is particularly close to her great friend Sajjida Shah.

“I like being the youngest as everyone takes care of me and I enjoy learning from the senior players,” she says.

All of the side’s preparations are focused on ensuring that Pakistan put up a good performance in the ICC Women’s World Cup, where their lack of matches against some of the world’s leading sides may prove a challenge.

“I’m looking forward to the whole experience and playing against the big countries such as Australia, India and New Zealand. I want to have fun as well.

“I will be very proud to be part of that team and hopefully bring some glory to the country.”

And what would she do if her time in Australia allowed her to meet her cricketing hero? Giggling nervously and slightly blushing, she says: “I would love to have the chance to ask him how he became such a good player.”—Agencies