‘Cuttack is new to us but our hopes are high’
Captain Sana Mir and her team is focused despite the unnecessary distractions. -Photo by Sara Faruqi/Dawn.com
MURIDKE: Pakistan women cricket team’s chief coach Mohtashim Rasheed hopes for a good tournament for his team at the new venue, Cuttack, in India which was announced by the ICC in view of security concerns that came up after nine men hockey players from Pakistan, who were to feature in Hockey India League (HIL), were forced to return home following threats to their lives by Hindu extremist party Shiv Sena.
“The ICC Women’s World Cup is a big international event, so the grounds in Cuttack must be up to a certain standard. But grounds and wickets are not really a major concern for us at this stage as we have been more worried about being stopped from featuring in the event,” the coach told Dawn on Friday.
“The girls have qualified for the World Cup and have been working very hard for it. They deserved to play and play they will.”
“When our team played in India earlier, in 2007, it was in Guwahati. We hadn’t even heard of that city then and even Cuttack will be a very new place for us. But we aim to play good cricket there,” said Mohtashim.
Team captain Sana Mir said that she had heard that Cuttack was a cantonment area which makes it a safe venue. “But it will be interesting to see what happens if we qualify for the Super Sixes. Because the next round’s matches are all in Mumbai.”
“Some of them are also day and night encounters and most of the matches, especially the India matches, are televised, too. Changing venues then will also create TV rights issues,” she pointed out.
I read an article on dawn yesterday. How common people in pakistan are moved by conspiracy theories and by flak politicians and army to get popular vote by criticizing eastern border. I do think this is a positive move. But as a nation india is growing and i am happy to see no act of terrorism and incursion will be tolerated by India. I believe Pakistan who talks a lot about international probe please do read international news and see how things are before making comment on local conspiracy hatch.
So Indians are threatening Pakistani women and who are Really cricketers. Indians, I am proud of you.
When India is causing so much of trouble in your country, why are you interested in playing sports with India…?
Good luck girls do what the boys did.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Pak girls.Try your best and we are proud.Best of luck.
The skipper seems to be quite knowledgeable off ground. I hope her on ground knowledge works in Pakistan’s favor.
First of all Shiv sena is not extremist party but a nationalistic party. secondly there was no threat to lives of pakistani players, but only threats to disrupt the matches involving them. This is India not pakistan where there is attack on the lives of players, like happened to srilankans. Please get your facts rights before printing them.
Does not matter if its Pakistan or India. Extremist made you guys move the venue. That was there main objective and they won. So quit pointing fingers and admit it that you guys have issues also. Not as bad as Pakistan BUT they do exist.
They are not extremist they democratically opposed. They don’t kill people with weapons and hiding they are political party in India . Dear dawn post facts not assumptions.
We moved the venue but they still are playing in India whereas Sri lankan team had to go back that time and International cricket was suspended there whereas there is no such situation in India.
where is cuttack situated can some one explain
In state of Orissa on eastern part of India.
cuttack is situated in eastern india near kolkata .
bay of Bengal coast i guess.you can check map as well.
In the state of Odisha-eastern part of India
In India!
Cuttack is in the province Odisha. This is in the eastern part of India.
Google!!
Cuttack is the largest city of the Indian State of Odisha. Odisha is a minerals-rich coastal State, bordering the Indian States of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. Till 1948, Cuttack was the Capital of the State. But in 1948 the a new Capital was established in Bhuvaneshwar, which is 28 km from Cuttack. Odisha is one of the economically backward States of India, which has started making significant development strides under a youthful and visionary Chief Minister, who belongs to a regional party. For more information about the city and the State, you may read Wikipedia.
In Orissa or now known as Odisha, name changed by politicians for no reason
in Orissa State …Kolkata se 400km dur ..
use google maps.
Cuttack is situated in the eastern state of Odhisa nearing the Bay of Bengal. It is close to the capital of Odhisa, Bhuvaneswar. The next big city nearby is Calcutta which is approx 430 km away!
In the state of Odisha, on the east coast next to West Bengal and Kolkota
Look at the map of India . It is the capital of the state of Odisha
In the state of Odisha in eastern India not too far from Kolkata.
.
In a magical place called google.
where is India? can someone please respond if you guys free from responding Mumtaz ?
PS : Pun Intended !
Shah Jahan (Taj Mahal waale)
Good luck Girls…we are with you what ever happens!