The PCB is trying to put to rest all the controversies of women cricket in Pakistan, by appointing its own representative to the game

AFTER failing in its endeavour to set the house in order, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is trying to bring everybody under one roof in order to sort out women’s cricket issue and create a separate wing, on an all Pakistan basis, under its umbrella.

The move comes after the International Cricket Council (ICC) decided to take control of the International Women’s Cricket Council (IWCC). Previously, the IWCC used to work independently and had organized seven women’s cricket World Cups.

As a first step, the PCB has named Mrs Meera Phailabus as convener of women’s wing. However, her appointment has been thoroughly opposed by those who were running the show earlier.

Before the PCB top hierarchy took the present step, the sport had two warring bodies which lay claim to the stewardship of the game’s female genre in Pakistan — the Shaiza Khan group and the Shireen Javed group.

Statistics show that since its coming into being in February 1996, the Pakistan Women’s Cricket Control Association (PWCCA) has been run by sisters — Shaiza and Sharmeen. It has been mostly confined to Karachi. They have the resources, own a private ground under ‘chadar aur char divari’ for practice and it’s their passion that has pulled the game for so long.

The PWCCA came to limelight only a year after its formation, when they made their debut in the 6th Women’s Cricket World Cup in the Indian capital in December 1997. Pakistan also got the Test status during the annual general meeting held on the sidelines of the World Cup.

The mega event was preceded by a 45-day tour of New Zealand and Australia to play three ODIs — two against Kiwis and one against the Aussies. Pakistan lost all the matches. Playing ODIs outside Pakistan was mandatory in order to qualify for the World Cup.

Though the twin visit turned out to be quite a success as the tourists won a couple of side games and qualified for the World Cup. However, off the field, six players of the team rebelled against team management.

The year 1998 saw Pakistan make their Test debut against Sri Lanka. The one-off Test ended in a draw. During their three-week tour, Pakistan also played a three-ODI series against their counterparts, again losing all.

The following year, Shaiza, Shermeen and Kiran Baloch went to England at an invitation of the MCC and played four county fixtures for the MCC. Pakistan again toured England in the 2000 and played a one-off Test and five ODIs against the Irish side.

Despite facing hardships at home, both at the hands of PCB and the rival group, PWCCA played host to two foreign teams — Holland in 2001 and West Indies last year. Pakistan won a seven ODI series against the Dutch 4-3, played at the National Stadium, while the four-day one-off Test against the Caribbeans resulted in a draw. The visitors won the seven ODI series 5-2.

In between playing host to the two foreign teams, Pakistan toured Sri Lanka in 2002, playing six ODIs and participated in IWCC Trophy at Holland the next year. However, despite their feats, the PWCCA never got the blessings of the PCB high-ups including Majid Khan and Ramiz Raja. The PWCCA officials also apprised Mr Shahryar M. Khan, the PCB chief, about the step-motherly treatment meted out to PWCCA.

The other group — Pakistan Women’s Cricket Association — is headed by the Lahore based Mrs Shireen Javed. Their activities are confined to the domestic level only. A group of women cricketers, under the banner of PWCA and LWCA had also staged a demonstration at Lahore and demanded removal of the PCB chief for favouritism.

The PCB chief, Shahryar Khan, meanwhile, has refuted all claims of the Karachi and Lahore based bodies as being the sole representatives of the country. “No one is true in their claims,” he says.

Meanwhile the PCB has announced the holding of the National Women’s Cricket Championship at Lahore in February. Nine regional women cricket teams will vie for the top honours in the competition being held under the aegis of PCB for the first time.

Now with PCB taking control of the women cricket, there is no use of crying over spilt milk.