Ayesha Ashhar’s presence in Pakistan women’s cricket just cannot be ignored. Intimately aware of all the happenings, she has been the manager of the Team Pakistan and head of the three-member committee that held an inquired into the sexual harassment scandal.
What is your take on the recent harassment scandal that broke out in Multan recently?
Women’s cricket in Pakistan had been incident free so far. Such a case has never occurred before. With regard to this particular scandal a full inquiry was conducted by the PCB to find out what the truth was and the final verdict, the truth will come out soon. I really can’t say what our findings are, but we took this issue very seriously because as women’s cricket is still developing in Pakistan, such allegations may discourage girls from taking to the game. Having said that, I would like to add that this one-off incident is an aberration and I have no doubt in my mind that women cricket will flourish in this country, while remaining scandal free like before.
How did you go about the inquiry?
We looked at the allegations from every angle. A legal expert was also on the committee. Both parties were heard and their statements recorded and videotaped, as well as all the evidence presented was analyzed. So much so, the career records of the girls involved was also scrutinized to see whether they merited selection. The committee has submitted its findings to the PCB authorities and now it is up to them to give a final verdict.
How far is the scandal likely to impact perceptions on Pakistan women’s cricket?
I don’t think that perceptions regarding women cricket will change as it is widely followed now and has been accepted as a respected women’s sport. One case does not mean that the entire sport is bad and I would further say that no one should make conclusions until the outcome of the report.
Where do you see women’s cricket headed to in terms of its spread across the country? Is it taking root with expanding participation of women’s colleges, universities etc?
I would say that women cricket in Pakistan has grown threefold in the last five years. At the moment more than 1,500 girls are playing cricket on a regular basis. All the 12 Regions of Pakistan are now involved in the promotion of women’s cricket. We have departments forming their teams. Regular cricket is being played in colleges and universities and we are also trying to enhance participation at school level. I would like to inform you that the Pakistan Women Cricket Team is the youngest in the world which shows that cricket in colleges and universities is expanding and more and more girls are taking up the sport.
With increased international participation do you see a greater participation in women’s cricket in Pakistan?
I am sure with more international exposure and participation the sport will gain in popularity. We need international cricket to come back to Pakistan because if we could host an international events in Pakistan than colleges, universities and school girls could see the Pakistan Women’s team play and I am sure it would immensely help in the rapid promotion of the game.
Where is Pakistan’s women’s cricket headed to in terms of its international recognition and standing?
The Team Pakistan has made a name for itself in the international arena. They are true ambassadors on and off the field and they have immensely improved the image of Pakistani women throughout the world. As far as standings are concerned, they keep changing with each tournament played. The Pakistan team are currently ranked eighth in the world, though sixth has so far been our highest. And I am sure they will improve in the future as they are very hard working and dedicated. Since 2010, when we won the Asian Games gold at Guangzhou, our women’s cricket has been upwardly mobile, and we beat India in the ICC Twenty20 Cup last year.
How rewarding it is to be a woman cricketer, i) at the national level and, ii) the international level in monetary terms?
A: It is very rewarding to be a woman cricketer both at National and International level. The way women cricket has come up in the last three to four years is commendable. Women Cricket has become a professional sport and you can say it can be taken up as a career if you excel in the game. Since women cricketers were awarded central contracts after winning the Asian Games in 2010, the game has gained more popularity. All women players are well paid whether they are playing at national or international level which is a plus point and helps in the long run. I would like to add that PCB has been very supportive and where women cricket stands today is because of the facilities provided by the PCB. Looking at the current progress of our women cricket team, I would definitely say that the sport is on its way up in every way and more and more girls are taking up the sport which is very encouraging.
A.A
