ISLAMABAD - 2014 was arguably one of the best years for Pakistan woman cricket team as the girls in green proved their mettle at the top level winning lone gold for the country in Asian Games and also performed exceptionally well against the mighty Australians at their backyard.
In the 2014 Asian Games, Pakistan women's cricket team defeated Bangladesh women cricket team in the final match by four runs in Incheon, South Korea in a rain-hit low scoring match. Pakistan women scored 97 runs for the loss of 6 wickets. The match was interrupted by rain. Bangladesh women innings reduced to 7 overs and their revised target was 43 runs per Duckworth-Lewis method; they scored 38 runs for 9 wickets. This was the second consecutive title won by the Pakistan women against the same team in Asian Games.
Pakistan finished on 7th place in the 2014 ICC Women's World Twenty20 after defeating Sri Lanka by 14 runs in the playoffs. Bismah Maroof scored unbeaten 62 runs and Sania Khan took 3 wickets for 24 runs. Maroof was named woman of the match.
Although Pakistani woman team failed to win series against Aussies but they did managed to win hearts and minds of many and it was a great and recognizable performance by the girls in green. Hats off to Pakistan Cricket Board as they lent all-out support to females and it was because of PCB's special look after Pakistan woman team excelled in all the major tournaments in which they participated in 2014.
The PCB abolished Woman Wing chairperson’s post after Bushra Aitizaz completed her tenure and her services for woman cricket was highly appreciated by PCB Chairman Sharyar Khan, a gesture needed to be followed in true letter and spirit. Woman team captain Sana Mir, Nain Abidi, Bismah Maroof, Qanta Jalil and others performed exceptionally for the team and country but once again no major fresh face was included in the team. A number of deserving players were kept away from representing country. A number of allegations also surfaced thick and fast and a lot of eye-brows were raised over the selection criteria as few certain individuals managed to cling onto respective posts despite poor performances.
Test cricketer Haroon Rashid was handed over women cricket teams affairs and after taking charge some six months ago, Haroon has brought some revolutionary changes. He scrapped U-19 and started U-21 cricket, which was indeed a great step keeping in mind future of the females, who are late starters as compared to male cricketers. Due to late starts majority of female cricketers disappeared from the scene before making it to the national team.
The PCB took great initiative by conducting First Malala National Women cricket championship, which paid great dividend as the PCB was able to find 15 to 30 fresh faces apart from the 15 senior players. These fresh faces would not only boost the bench strength but also help develop a healthy competition for places in the playing XI.
Haroon has also decided to start country-wide talent hunt scheme in eight major cities of the country in schools and colleges and players who had passion and talent would be selected for training, grooming and would be picked for further procedure. Another major area where Haroon is focusing on is to get maximum grounds for the females as they can't play in open spaces like males. It was decided to get allocate at least four to five grounds for woman cricketers in major cities in initial stages. Work is also in progress of taking control of cricket ground at Ayub Park in Rawalpindi. Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif has also allocated a separate ground for female players in Lahore. The PCB would soon take over the ground and pitches and other facilities would be provided while Haroon is also initiating signing MOU with LUMS, which would result in PCB providing expertise to LUMS and in return they would utilize their facilities and ground. AT the moment, woman training camp is also underway at Southend Club Defense cricket ground where 15 selected players are training where indoor facilities, gym and accommodation are being provided to players. The women team would depart to UAE on 7th January to play series against Sri Lankan in which three One Day Internationals and as many T20 Internationals would be played. Then Pakistan women team would play home series against South African women at the neutral venue of the UAE in March. After that series Pakistan women team would return to Pakistan and start training.
The future of Pakistan women cricket is for the time being in safe and sound hands. It is now up to female players to get maximum advantage form the vast experience of Haroon and showcase their skills in best possible fashion. 2014 was not a bad year for the women cricketers but they must forget previous year and fully concentrate and focus on the 2015 in which women team had to play in some high-profile events besides taking part in different series. Hopes are high, only the time would tell weather Sana Mir and company have learnt from their past mistakes and aiming high for the coming year or not. The PCB must further enhance women cricketers monthly contracts and also include more fresh faces to keep pace with fast changing women cricket or it would be an exercise in futile.