Shaiza Khan was the first captain of the Pakistan women’s team and it was largely through her work that the team commenced international cricket.
Educated in England at Shrewsbury School and the University of Leeds, upon returning to Pakistan Shaiza, along with her younger sister Sharmeen Khan, had a burning passion to create a women’s team for Pakistan. Gender, cultural and even PCB forces were against the sisters. They couldn’t play anywhere. Shaiza and her sister received death threats. It seemed as though the entire country was against them.
Fortunately their father had a factory and a cricket ground was built for his daughters to play and to form a team for Pakistan. They formed the PWCCA which was in direct conflict with the PCB. With over 5,000 members it was the PWCCA that organised Pakistan’s first tour to New Zealand and Australia in January 1998.
In their debut on the world stage at Hagley Oval, Pakistan lost to Newland by 10 wickets. The second ODI even worse, losing by 408 runs. Against Australia the team only had 10 players and were bowled out for 23, chasing Australia’s 4/397. Perhaps international cricket was not for Pakistan.
Shaiza Khan is nothing if not resilient. In December of 1997 she leads Pakistan to their first World Cup. They are flogged mercilessly by all of the other teams, including Denmark.
Shaiza presses on. In April 1998 she leads Pakistan in their debut Test match. Sri Lanka beat them by 309 runs. In 2000 they were humiliated by Ireland in their second Test, by an innings and 54 runs.
In 2004 Pakistan play their most recent Test to date, against West Indies. On the back of Kiran Baluch’s 242 record score, Pakistan were finally in the game. Pakistan were 2/58 when stumps were drawn on the final day, chasing 162 for victory. Shaiza Khan had destroyed the West Indies batting with her leg spin in the first innings taking 7-59, and then again in the second innings, 6-167. Shaiza’s 13-226 is a record in women’s Test cricket to this day.
Eventually the PCB and the PWCCA made peace and today the PCB is an excellent support of their women’s game. But it all started with an incredibly determined woman. Where have we heard that before? A most important figure in women’s cricket, a modern day pioneer.
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