Images

#GirlsInGreen share success secrets and nicknames at Lahore meet-and-greet

#GirlsInGreen share success secrets and nicknames at Lahore meet-and-greet

The Last Word saw a full house as Lahoris of all age groups poured in to meet Pakistan's women's cricket team
Updated 01 Apr, 2016

On Thursday, a constellation of stars took over the Last Word as the Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team sat down for a meet & greet session with Zeb Bangash and Sanayah Malik from Girls at Dhabas. The event was aimed to pay homage to the team and congratulate them on their phenomenal performance in the World T20 Games 2016.

The session attracted Lahoris from all age groups, who had come to recognise the achievements of these outstanding women and show their support. The panel included players -- Sana Mir, Bisma Maroof, Nida Dar, Aliya Riaz, Iram Javed, Sidra Ameen, Marina Iqbal and the team’s coach, Mohtesham Rashid, who narrated heartening stories both from their cricket careers and personal lives, with focus on their recent success at the Women’s T20 World Cup.

The team and their coach took questions about their spectacular performance in the World T20 Games - Photo courtesy Girls At Dhabas
The team and their coach took questions about their spectacular performance in the World T20 Games - Photo courtesy Girls At Dhabas

Commenting on their win against India, Sana Mir said it was the players’ confidence in the field and support of Pakistanis all over the world as well as the media, which helped them win.

While discussing the rivalry with India, she said: “At the start of our careers, winning against India had always been crucial for us as Pakistani cricket players. However, after playing internationally for many years against India and other teams, we realised that winning against all the teams is equally important as it helped us understand the sport better.”

When asked about his experience of working as the team’s coach, Mr Mohtesham said: “I have never been able to achieve the same level of success with any men’s cricket team as I have achieved while coaching the women’s cricket team.” He explained that the women players were always willing to learn and therefore it was easier to help polish their skills and work on their weaknesses. He also appreciated the team for their hard work despite lack of resources and support at the start from both the media and the cricket board.


"At the start of our careers, winning against India had always been crucial for us as Pakistani cricket players. However, after playing internationally for many years against India and other teams, we realised that winning against all the teams is equally important as it helped us understand the sport better."


Talking about their strengths as a team, each one of them felt that it was their ‘unity’ and ‘teamwork’ that kept them going.

Marina Iqbal said the team had developed a ‘natural bonding’ over the years after facing ups and downs together, so much so that they even spent most of the time off field together.

The team says that it is their unity that makes them a strong contender - Photo courtesy Girls At Dhabas
The team says that it is their unity that makes them a strong contender - Photo courtesy Girls At Dhabas

While narrating their personal journeys, the players talked about the challenges they had to face as young girls, especially those like Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz, who had to move from other cities to Lahore, as their families would either disapprove of them playing cricket or worry about them living alone. However, she said, with hard work and determination, coupled with passion for the sport, they made their way to the national cricket team. After their success in Asia Games in 2010 and 2014, their families started to support them and they were able to continue their dream careers.

The highlight of the session was when the team revealed fun facts about each other, like their nicknames that ranged from ‘Hitler Mir’ (Sana Mir), ‘Dar’ (Nida Dar) and ‘Yo’ for Irum Ameen, inspired by the singer Honey Singh whose songs she used to sing during the tours.

The girls outed each others nicknames' - Sana Mir is 'Hitler Mir', Nida Dar goes by just 'Dar' and Honey Singh fan Irum Ameen is called 'Yo' - Photo courtesy Girls at Dhabas
The girls outed each others nicknames' - Sana Mir is 'Hitler Mir', Nida Dar goes by just 'Dar' and Honey Singh fan Irum Ameen is called 'Yo' - Photo courtesy Girls at Dhabas

Concluding the session, Sana said when she joined the team, they were nowhere to be seen in the world rankings. However, over the years, they were able to build their confidence enough to fearlessly play against any team and win to reach top of the rankings. She believed that was achieved with the support from the media, society, their families and friends, who recognised their efforts and they were able to aim for higher goals, like the T20 World Cup.

“(We should) recognise our heroes and stand with them in all times, so more heroes could be made in the future,” she said.

A previous version of this story had a factual error, which has been corrected.


Originally published in Dawn, April 1st, 2016

Comments

Asad Apr 01, 2016 10:25am
Thank You Ladies and Keep it Up!!
Recommend
Omair Apr 01, 2016 10:25am
The name is Bisma Maroof not Farooq. Please correct it. And She is quite a classy left handed batter.
Recommend
Waqas Sultan Apr 01, 2016 10:28am
These girls are our PRIDE
Recommend
Ri Apr 01, 2016 10:35am
Keep it up girls! It takes hard work to be world's best team and I can see you are on this mission.
Recommend
Shafaq Hussain Apr 01, 2016 10:53am
Pakistan Womens Cricket team is playing with a better spirit than Mens Cricket team
Recommend
ali Apr 01, 2016 10:56am
Good going girls!
Recommend
ali Apr 01, 2016 10:57am
Good going girls!
Recommend
amir Apr 01, 2016 11:23am
applause for team.
Recommend
New Distric Hunza Apr 01, 2016 11:25am
My ladies you all played very Well.. You did that what Men's Team didn't by beating India in WC . you are our pride like Fatimah Jinnah, Samina Baig, Arfa Karim and many others. WE PROUD ON OUR LADIES .
Recommend
Samad Chaudhry London Apr 01, 2016 11:30am
Pride of Pakistan
Recommend
hani Apr 01, 2016 11:41am
congratulations again for your success as well ours :) good luck for the rest
Recommend
Kavita Apr 01, 2016 11:54am
Well done, Girls. Best wishes from India.
Recommend
Rishabh Apr 01, 2016 11:57am
Kudos to these women.
Recommend
Karrar Apr 01, 2016 12:06pm
Great job done ladies! Hope you bring home world cup soon :)
Recommend
Rashid Sultan Apr 01, 2016 12:09pm
Well done. The finals and victory next time. Winning against India is good but winning against all is even better.
Recommend
Thoroughthinker Apr 01, 2016 12:13pm
Another proof that our females have overtaken the males in every field of performance.
Recommend
Adeel Memon Apr 01, 2016 12:16pm
great
Recommend
A. Ghilzai Apr 01, 2016 12:18pm
This is the real face of Pakistan, resilient, open minded, tolerant, full of fighting spirit and life.
Recommend
Muhammad Arshad Apr 01, 2016 12:32pm
Good one......
Recommend
Husnain Ali Apr 01, 2016 12:44pm
At least they have a confidence in theirselves which men team lacking. Its time for us to support them rather than critisizing.
Recommend
AT Apr 01, 2016 01:42pm
The girls are a serious minded team. they have their priorities right. They should be provided sponsorships and funds by the PCB, which seems unlikely from the setup headed by Chairman Sheharyar. The captain has reportedly expressed her decision to retire. Misbah should follow her decision and decline the invitation to captain the men's team one more time. It is always better to leave on a high note, than to be hounded out.
Recommend
Red Dawn Apr 01, 2016 02:16pm
Time to start supporting them. All power to girls.
Recommend
SHAMAIL Apr 01, 2016 02:44pm
Well done, good luck and best wishes for the future, keep it and carry on.
Recommend
Spyrogyra Apr 01, 2016 02:56pm
Bravo!
Recommend
Zak Apr 01, 2016 03:00pm
Pakistan women's team ,full of grace and pakistan men' s team, full of disgrace.
Recommend
KnowTheTruth Apr 01, 2016 03:20pm
very pretty. Could beat a modeling finalists team.
Recommend
SAEED MASOOD Apr 01, 2016 03:22pm
Shahbash Pakistan girls...the men can only do the half job ,the other have is to be done by you and you are doing very well..Thank you..
Recommend
Erik Apr 01, 2016 03:45pm
I have seen these girls play in Qatar. They are world class players. Pakistan needs to support them and provide adequate funds and opportunities.
Recommend
Mir sartaj Apr 01, 2016 03:48pm
Congrats to our women green cricket team for the success tour .I am not too ambitious that our team would be win T 20,The main cause of my appreciation to our team is,they fought in the ground confidently,try their best to win the game,they represent their nation specially women prominently and even teach some lesson to Indian women cricket team which we Pakistani nation always expect from their national stars.
Recommend
Shakil Apr 01, 2016 03:51pm
God Bless You Girls !
Recommend
Rao Umair Apr 01, 2016 04:13pm
Pakistan women's cricket team is much better than the male cricket team.we must support them.
Recommend
Afsana Apr 01, 2016 05:23pm
Thanks..Lovely ladies for making us proud
Recommend
Afsana Apr 01, 2016 05:24pm
Proud to be a women....
Recommend
Muddasir Ahmed Shaikh Apr 01, 2016 06:32pm
GOOD ATLEAST ...........
Recommend
KnowTheTruth Apr 01, 2016 07:26pm
Keep it up,
Recommend
Aku Apr 01, 2016 09:02pm
Super girls!
Recommend
a Apr 01, 2016 11:05pm
The real challenge is to make sure the current victories are not a one off. They have a long way to go against teams like Australia, England, Windies and India. These teams have won world cups in the past.
Recommend
Truth Apr 02, 2016 08:22am
Great effort by the Ladies despite so many hurdles in their way. Well done and congrats for your achievements.
Recommend
Pak Apr 02, 2016 08:59am
Super proud of our girls and don't ever forget Pakistani women are the prettiest of them ALL!
Recommend
Jawad Pakistani Apr 02, 2016 11:42am
Shahzadia of Pakistan. Pride of Pakistan. Princess of Pakistan.
Recommend
ali Apr 04, 2016 06:00pm
Winning one game and from bangladesh will not make them champions.
Recommend