Women’s cricket in Pakistan embarked on a new journey this month with the announcement of two separate captains for One-Day International and Twenty20 formats. Bismah Maroof, who is deemed to be the soundest batswoman technique-wise, has been brought in as the T20 skipper for the daunting tour of England that kicks off tomorrow. Earlier, Sana Mir, who captained Pakistan in the shorter version since 2009, relinquished the post at the end of a memorable ICC Women’s World T20 in India in March/April that saw Pakistan beating India for the second time in the tournament’s history.

The challenging English conditions make it difficult for subcontinent cricketers to acclimatise; however, Maroof, who is aware of the high expectations from herself and the team, promises a good show.

“The girls have prepared well in the camp. We played good cricket in the World T20, so, the expectations from us are on the higher side.

Consistency is the key and we need to be consistent on the English tour which will translate into better results. I wish to continue from where Sana Mir has left,” she says.

Disillusioned by the men’s team’s dismal run in the event, the nation tuned into the Women’s WT20 matches.

Being considered as one of the least competitive sides in the international arena, the girls had the luxury to play without pressure, and it led to astonishing results.

They secured two comprehensive victories over India and Bangladesh after a close defeat in the tournament opener against the West Indies.

Remarkably, a team that is deprived of competitive cricket became a serious contender for a semi-final berth in the event.

“We talk to Pakistan Cricket Board from time to time that we require more matches to groom our players. We need to play with the top teams to get better results,” laments the concerned captain.

“The ICC Women Championship [a programme that will see the top eight teams play each other in three ODIs from 2014 till 2016] has benefitted us,” she adds.

Hopes of playing the maiden WT20 semi-final were shattered for the girls in green when a massive 86-run loss to English women curtailed Pakistan’s WT20 campaign to group stage.

Maroof is eager to avenge the loss and expects from her side to “stick to their strength and play positive brand of cricket.”

She says: “England has a strong lineup. But this time they will be divested of Charlotte Edwards and Sarah Taylor’s services. The two have given us a tough time in previous encounters. So, we would try to make the most of their absence and try to ingrain consistency in our cricket,” says Maroof, for whom consistency is the key to success.

Pakistan’s women team made their international debut in 1997 and have since remained under the shadow of the men’s team.

A stunning Asian Games 2010 campaign, which ended with gold medals around their necks, promised to turn the situation on its head, but not much changed.

Maroof, however, chooses to focus on the bright side.

“It brought a wonderful change in our lives. It led to the acceptance that women can also play cricket. We got recognition from the media and the people. The PCB awarded us central contracts in wake of the success, which stabilised the girls financially. We successfully defended the gold medal in 2014. That was again a big thing! But I still believe we can get better facilities to aid us improve ourselves.”

It has been almost two decades since Pakistan’s women have been playing at the top level, yet the PCB has not developed any dedicated training facilities for them.

“The girls cannot train in open spaces. I have been pushing for separate training facilities and grounds for them where they can practice and work out to improve themselves,” she says.

Absence of the much-needed training centres underscores the cricket board’s non-serious attitude towards the development of the game for females.

As if that was not enough, the clichéd derogatory comments from people like Shahid Afridi that ask to limit a woman’s life to the kitchen make the girls in green strive for acceptance day and night.

“We have picked this career for ourselves and as professionals we should continue to play cricket. We do not care what anyone thinks,” says Maroof as her tone becomes a tad harsh.

But what she says next speaks volumes about her determination to carry on playing. “We [women national team] support each other and that is enough for us.”

Maroof, who celebrates her 25th birthday next month, began her cricket journey from the roof of her house. Born in a “cricket-crazy family” as she describes her household, she batted against her father and brother when very young.

She was just 14 when she appeared for the trials for Lahore women’s Under-21 team.

“My cricket started from a very young age. I got a lot of support from my family. There were trials being held to select the Lahore Under-21 women’s team and my uncle informed my father about it. In the eighth grade at that time, I was not aware of the fact that Pakistan women also played at the international level. My father told me to give it a shot,” she gushes. And the rest is history.

Maroof’s immaculate batting technique booked her a spot in the 16-woman squad in 2006 when Hong Kong arrived in Pakistan to play three List-A matches.

Benched in the first two fixtures, the left-handed batswoman was given a go in the last, in which she impressed with a sublime 82.

When asked to comment on the extraordinary experience, Maroof states, “I was too young at the time and did not know how to react. I did not know how much I should be excited about the opportunity. Later, I received a lot of appreciation for the knock. That is when I realised that I achieved something.”

The performance put her on a plane bound to India for the Women’s Asia Cup in December 2006 — where she made an international debut for Pakistan with a strong 76-ball 43 against India at Jaipur.

Pakistan lost the game by 80 runs, but the silver lining was the unearthing of the batswoman who went on to become the backbone of Pakistan’s batting lineup. “It is always a passionate and exciting moment to play against India, but there is big pressure to perform well, too.”

She fast-forwards to March 19, 2016, when Pakistan women beat India women by two runs (D/L method) in a rain-affected game.

“This time we had planned to put our emotions aside and play using our brains. The team’s commitment level was outstanding. We remained cool and that helped us put up a good show. We believed in ourselves that we can defeat them, as we had beaten the Indian women in the WT20 earlier.”

While narrating her cricket journey, Maroof reiterates the support of her family.

“It was because of the support of my family, especially my father that I am playing cricket at this level. There came a time when I had to make a choice between cricket and my studies. I asked about my father’s desire and he told me to prioritise cricket,” she recalls.

Her brother and father played an essential role in her rise to the top echelons.

“I started my practice at a boys cricket club at Race Course Park [now Jilani Park], Lahore. Whenever I went there my brother or my father accompanied me and took care of me despite the long durations and the heat,” she shares.

Maroof, now a one-down batswoman, started her career as an opener. A few years later she was placed at the most crucial one-down position because of her outstanding technique that aids her in neutralising the spinners.

“In 2010, our coach Mansoor Rana asked me to bat at one-down because I played spin better than the others. In my first game as a third number batsman, I scored a 50. Then everyone told me to stick to the new role.”

The number three spot is reckoned to be most difficult by experts as its role varies greatly.

However, Mahroof, who has piled up 1,248 T20I runs at an average of 27, enjoys the daunting task. If an opener falls early the batter has to see off the new ball.

Otherwise he/she is responsible to construct the innings. “I feel happy when I anchor the innings and lead my side,” she says.

Maroof, a team player, adapts to whatever role her team demands. She began her career as a batswoman, but, at present, she is registered as an all-rounder in cricket’s record books.

The absence of Javeria Khan due to a ‘jerk action’ left a spot vacant in the spin bowling attack and Maroof stepped up to fill it. She continues to baffle batswomen around the world with her leg-spin and hopes to learn some traits from the former Pakistan spinner Mushtaq Ahmed.

The left-handed batswoman informs that she does not have a permanent role model. She starts following whoever plays well. Be it Australia’s Michael Clarke or India’s Virat Kohli.

These days, the latter has become her idol because of his prowess and consistency. Her favorite stroke is the cover drive because of the aesthetics attached to it.

Though the Pakistan women’s team has shown improvement over the last few years, there remains a drought of female cricketers in the country.

Maroof emphasises on the need to take the sport at the grassroots level and especially schools “to enhance the bench strength”.

Maroof recalls a cricket-related memory still fresh in her mind, “We did not have a proper pitch at school, but we used to play cricket during recess. Once we got an opportunity to play with the hard ball. While fielding I took a blinder. My Islamiat teacher, who was looking at us from the class, called me to tell that I have a very bright future in cricket. I did not think much about it, but her words had an impact on me.”

She emphasises on the need to improve school cricket to enhance the quality of women’s cricket in Pakistan.

“There is no cricket here at the grassroots and school level. There are no grounds in schools. We need to take cricket to that level because there is a lot of talent present there. On several occasions, we have offered our services to the PCB to help in talent identification.”

Maroof promises “positive results” and seeks media’s support for the English tour, as she prepares strategies to counter the mighty English women cricket team. Our team is in good hands.

Twitter: @ahsannagi

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, June 19th, 2016