Interview: Tuba Hassan Talks Future Plans in Cricket
When Pakistan met Sri Lanka on the shores of Karachi in May 2022, the trite outfit of Pakistan was all of a sudden enthused with new energy as 21-year-old Tuba Hassan stunned the world in her very first appearance. The young leg-spinner announced her arrival on the international stage with a boom sending the Sri Lankan batters swirling away with her spinning spells.
Tuba Hassan picked up 3 wickets for 8 runs in her first T20I outing for which she was declared Player of the Match. Her dream-like debut, which kept her up at nights, saw her bag Player of the Series title as Pakistan whitewashed Sri Lanka by 3-0.
Although Tuba Hassan did not make an appearance in the ODI series, her surreal start of the international career continued as she became the first ever Pakistan cricketer to win ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Month, that too in her first month of playing international cricket. The world has not witnessed better beginnings than this. Has it?
While the entire cricket fraternity watched the sensational spells bowled by Tuba Hassan, there were many who wondered about her trek to the top. So, TAWC presents an exclusive read into Tuba Hassan’s journey of becoming a leg-spinner in Pakistan, a place where women still see limitations in the field of cricket.
Like any other cricketer in Pakistan, Tuba Hassan started playing cricket in the streets where she would try different forms of bowling to get the boys out so she could enjoy her turn to bat. However, the young girl was soon told to change her pastime since the streets of Lahore were not the suitable place for the girls to be seen at. The only way she was supposed to show her passion for the game of cricket was to cheer for the men’s team in front of the TV. But then came a twist in the story, the entry of the super hero. Tuba’s father could not see his daughter’s dream dying in the dark so he decided to take the road less taken and got Tuba enrolled in a men’s cricket club.
When asked about her experience of playing in a men’s cricket club, Tuba Hassan said:
As you know, I have played club cricket, there is a big role of my father in it. I was lucky that he supported me throughout my journey. But the club cricket was good. The boys were decent and the coaches as well. I think, as a girl, it is not easy to play with the boys. But you have to be more confident because girls are no less than boys. Just trust yourself and stick to your goals as I did.
While Tuba tried different bowling styles in her street cricket career, it was her coach at the club who told her to bowl the googlies that currently have the batters’ heads spinning.
Talking about how she decided to learn the difficult art of leg-spin, the 21-year-old said:
I think nothing is difficult when you love your profession. I just love to do leg-spin. In the start, I was not a leg-spinner but one day my coach said to me, ‘Why don’t you bowl leg-spin? It’s a difficult art and there is no leg-spinner in Pakistan team’. That day I started my journey as a leg-spinner at the age of 13.
On May 24, 2022, the debutant Tuba Hassan wrecked havoc on Lankan batters picking up the best ever bowling figures by a Pakistani on T20I debut. Revealing the mindset behind her magical spell, Tuba said:
In my first ever international match, the plan was kept very simple. The captain and the coach guided me and told me that they saw potential in me and I should just play my natural game. They told me to enjoy every moment of my debut. So, I just enjoyed my way through my first match.
While the surreal debut has been engraved in history as well as on the viewers’ minds, there is unseen struggle of years behind the exceptional leg-spinner we see today in Tuba.
When asked to point out what turned her path and lead her to the national side at such a young age, Tuba said:
First of all, I am grateful to Allah that the series was awesome for me as a debutant. As a Muslim, I have a strong belief in the prayers I receive from my parents and my loved ones as well as in hard work. I am not sure what my turning point was but whenever I played, I gave my best. It all starts from December when I performed well in the emerging camp. Then we had selection matches in Karachi where I performed well. So yeah, may be that was my turning point.
Starting her journey from a men’s cricket club, Tuba Hassan appreciated Pakistan Cricket Board for creating opportunities for young girls. Tuba said:
PCB is working more on the grass root level of cricket. The board is taking measures and other institutes are also stepping up. So, hopefully you will see more emerging cricketers as future stars in the coming days.
The world has known Tuba for being incredibly talented with the ball but the 21-year-old is equally confident about her batting. Tuba told how Pakistan’s often struggling batting outfit can be fixed and how she aspires to render her services for the crucial purpose.
Yeah, I am a bowling all-rounder and I want to continue improving my batting. As far as our batting side is concerned, I think the roles should be clear for the batters and they need to work on their shot selection too.
It was her coach at the club who motivated Tuba to become a leg-spinner but she also has idols from the league of the leg-spinners. Moreover, Tuba also revealed her all-time favorite cricketers as she said:
I used to watch all the players and learn from them. I used to watch the leg-spinners particularly Shane Warne, Rashid Khan, Shadab Khan Bhai and Yasir Shah Bhai. But I really love the way Babar Azam, Rizwan Bhai and Virat Kohli play. In women’s cricket, I love to watch English, Australian and Indian batters but my favorite cricketer is Ellyse Perry.
After having an unreal debut, Tuba Hassan aims to continue the magic throughout her international career as she has set some goals for the coming years.
It has all been possible because of my parents’ prayers and support and I hope it continues. As a patriot, I want to see Pakistan women’s team at the top of the rankings. Individually, I want to become a top class all-rounder.
Just three matches into her T20I career and Tuba Hassan stands amongst the most promising talent for Pakistan as she is the breath of fresh air, the dull-looking Pakistan have been waiting for years.
Photo: Pakistan Cricket Board
