THE start wasn’t ideal: a 107-run thumping by India in their Women’s World Cup opener, followed by a seven-wicket defeat to Australia. But since then, Pakistan’s women cricketers have gotten better. They only lost by six runs to South Africa before losing by nine runs to Bangladesh in thrillers that really could have gone either way. It meant that Pakistan remain winless in 18 World Cup matches and sit at the bottom of the eight-team round-robin table after four matches in this year’s event in New Zealand. The semi-finals appear out of reach, barring a dramatic turnaround in fortunes for the Bismah Maroof-led team. Even then, they would require teams above them to lose. However, there have been impressive individual performances from the Pakistan players and milestones achieved. They need to be celebrated. Their journey of making it to the World Cup, with very little investment in the women’s game here, must be hailed. Capt Bismah’s maternity leave finished recently and she is at the World Cup with her six-month-old daughter Fatima. Bismah made a half-century against Australia. Against Bangladesh, opener Sidra Ameen recorded Pakistan’s highest score at the World Cup with a fine century. She has progressed to the national team from age-group cricket and a domestic structure where tournaments are few. Spinner Nashra Sandhu, Pakistan’s highest wicket-taker at the tournament so far, has troubled top batters and bagged the prized wicket of Indian captain Mithali Raj in the opening game. She had to juggle education and sport, and only made it this far thanks to her family’s support.

It is tough to be a woman cricketer in Pakistan. Few are able to make cricket a full-time profession. Right now, Pakistan’s talent pool comprises 12 centrally contracted cricketers, with eight in the emerging category. These women have broken barriers all the way to be where they are. This is only the fifth time Pakistan are competing at a World Cup. With more matches and more competition, they will grow. PCB chairman Ramiz Raja has been quick to point out that the women’s game needs investment and the calendar needs to be regularised. He stressed he wants to start a Pakistan Super League for women. That is probably the push that women’s cricket in the country needs. Once that happens, results will follow. But for now, all Pakistan’s inspiring women in New Zealand need is a word of support instead of unwanted criticism.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2022