After overcoming numerous obstacles and restrictions, girls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Swat region were finally able to participate in what is being called the “first-ever” women’s cricket match in the Kabal tehsil.
Women players from Kabal and Mingora tehsils participated in the cricket match, which took place at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School ground in Kabal. In an exciting 10-over competition, the Mingora women’s cricket team secured a thrilling victory, defeating the Kabal team by a margin of seven runs.
A substantial audience, including female spectators, as well as local officials such as Assistant Commissioner (AC) Luqman Khan and AC Junaid Khan of Kabal, the event’s organizer and taekwondo champion Ayesha Ayaz, coach Ayaz Naik, and others, attended the game. Following the match, the players received trophies, certificates, and cash prizes.
The women cricketers expressed their happiness after the match and reflected on the challenges they faced in the past. Over the weekend, some religious clerics and elders in the Charbagh tehsil attempted to prevent the girls from playing cricket, deeming women’s participation in sports as “immoral.” In response to protests from players and locals, Swat Deputy Commissioner Dr. Qasim Ali Khan directed officials to find a suitable location for the match.
One of the players, Sapna, expressed her relief and joy at getting the opportunity to play in front of a large audience after the earlier incident in Charbagh. She emphasized the importance of recognizing women’s rights and their contributions to sports.
Call for support
Ayesha Ayaz, a 13-year-old taekwondo player with two gold medals and one silver medal for Pakistan, highlighted the remarkable talent of Swat’s women in various fields, including sports. She called for more support for female participation in sports, asserting that women should not face obstacles but should have opportunities to showcase their abilities for the nation’s pride.
Organizer Naik expressed gratitude to the district administration and event organizers, expressing hope for continued support and promotion of women’s sports. He considered this cricket match as the initial step toward fostering independent women’s sports activities and pledged to take further substantial measures to provide more opportunities for female athletes.
