SWAT: A women’s cricket match was held in Charbagh tehsil here on Tuesday, two days after several residents, including clerics, halted it.

Women of Kabal and Mingora tehsils played the ball game in front of a large number of female sports fans at the ground of the Government Girls Higher Secondary School.

The district administration had decided to find an ‘appropriate venue’ for the women’s cricket match after a group of residents, including religious leaders, showed up at the Charbagh Stadium last Sunday to stop the fixture insisting it’s “immodest for girls to play cricket in the open ground.”

Assistant commissioner of Babuzi Luqman Khan, assistant commissioner of Kabal Junaid Khan, taekwondo gold medalist Ayesha Ayaz, coach Ayaz Naik and journalist Rafiullah Khan were noted among participants.

Mingora’s team beat Kabul’s by seven runs in the first match, which was a thriller.

Mingora scored 129 runs in the allotted 10 overs but Kabal were all out for 122.

The guests distributed trophies, certificates and cash prizes to players.

The match brought great excitement to women cricketers, who said they’re upset after their fixture was “abruptly halted” and they were turned away.

“I can’t find words to describe how disheartened we [women players] got when certain individuals stopped us from playing in Charbagh. We wondered whether we’re not human beings and whether we’ve no rights,” Sapna told Dawn.

She added that she and other cricketers became restless after the incident but got really happy after today’s match.

“Today, I’m overjoyed at finally getting the opportunity to play in front of a large crowd and emerging as victorious,” she said.

Taekwondo player Ayesha Ayaz, who got two gold medals and one silver medal for Pakistan in international contests, said Swat’s women possessed remarkable talents in various fields, including sports.

She advocated women’s participation in sports and said women should be provided with opportunities to “showcase their abilities and increase prestige for the nation.”

Ayaz Naik, one of the match organisers, said he hoped that such events would continue to happen in the region to promote sports.

“This match is a step towards our women’s participation in sports. We’re committed to taking more measures to create better opportunities for women players,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2023