Pakistan’s Women Cricket is considered a symbol of hope, distinction and resilience. Every world cup qualification is celebrated as a historic achievement, while individual records are portrayed as something that is driving the sports further. It is an undeniable reality, yet there is still darkness resides beneath it. Ironically, this darkness highlights a question: Has Pakistan’s Women Cricket really progressed, or we simply celebrating the episodic achievements?
A Look into the Journey
At a bigger level, looking into the history and evolution of Pakistan Women’s Cricket appears encouraging . The appearances at global tournaments, widespread demand of Pakistani cricketers give us something to be proud of. Every step forward provides us with belief that Women’s game has finally secured it’s position in sporting landscape. Sporting world surely runs at the stake of the efforts of the players, but it can’t be flourished without a governing body.
Pakistan managed the first, but failed at the second. The question that keeps on popping after every failure is that; Is Pakistan Women’s Cricket team is really flourishing, or we just living in a world of delusion, without any destination? It’s the question that no one dares to ask, and no one wants to answer.
The Players have never been the Problem
Shaiza Khan and Sharmeen Khan, the Khan sisters, the pioneers of Pakistan Women’s Cricket, wrote a tale of defiance by breaking all the shackles. The place Pakistan Women’s Cricket has reached now, it is because of all the players who refused to give up and saved this game from fading in the pages of history.
Sana Mir completely changed the lens through which Women’s game was interpreted. She worked beyond runs, wickets and displayed absolute example of leadership, that eventually ended up by securing her name in the ICC Hall of Fame. She is the first Pakistani Women to take 100 ODI wickets, and posted her name with this record.
Nida Dar carried the legacy forward and became a face of Pakistan Women’s Cricket for years. Now a new generation has taken the charge.
Pakistan’s youngest ever captain to lead in ICC event, Fatima Sana is a brightest asset of Pakistan Women’s Cricket. From the streets of Karachi, to the ground of Cardiff, she covered a long distance. Her selection appeared after a heartbreak, a close fixture against South Africa, that unfortunately didn’t ended up in Pakistan’s favour in T20 WC 26. Birmingham Phoenix picked her up by using their wild card, as a replacement for Australian Cricketer, Lucy Hamilton for the sixth edition of the Women’s THE Hundred League. Her selection for The Hundred marks another significant milestone. This selection for one of the World’s most prestigious franchise league, isn’t only a personal achievement but also a moment of honour for Pakistan Women’s Cricket.
The talent exists, but foundation lacks.
Standards of Success
After the three decades, it has been very cleared that the real problem is not about the individuals, it’s about the one, which governs it all; the system. Every individual success creates another headline, every victory leads to another celebration. All these short-term achievements create a shade over the deeper institutional and structural issues. Australia, England, New Zealand, India, South Africa, have invested in the system and in the players as well.
They focused on institutional performance that led to the development of elite cricketers. We can’t raise mark on our players, because it eventually points back on our system. Women Cricket has been monetized on a very large scale, but our system works with hardly 30 to 40 seasonal players.
This is not progress, this is survival.
Occasional Initiatives
Every now and then, Pakistan Cricket Board arranges series with some selective nations, either it is Zimbabwe, Sri-Lanka, or Bangladesh. But, the most haunted thing is that, we even manage to win these fixtures hardly. There is no doubt, Pakistan Cricket Board deserves appreciation for preaching the women’s cricket. The arrangement of exhibition matches alongside with Pakistan Super League (PSL), created a silver lining related to the Women’s Cricket. But then everything silenced, and all the hopes faded into darkness. We have witnessed three Pakistan Super League events, but exhibition matches have lost into the past.
The development must begin much earlier, through domestic set-up, school competitions, academy programs, regional championships, and focusing on grassroot cricket. Even though there was a bilateral series between Pakistan Women’s and South Africa Women’s team, but the lack of preparation of Pakistan Women’s team in the T20I World Cup 2026 was clearly transparent and undeniable.
A Question that needs to be Answered
Another issue, that is dragging the Pakistan Women Cricket back at the point from where it started, are the changes in the coaching and management staff. The appointment of the former fast bowler, Wahab Riaz sparked debate across the cricketing community. It thrown light on the issue, whether Pakistan Cricket Board is really paying deserved attention to the Women’s Cricket or it is just something that is being run under the men’s cricket.
I still remember watching Tuba Hassan, on her debut match. It was the scorching heat of Pakistan summers, and her variations were just heating up the moment. All the Sri Lankan batters were unable to pick her up, and Tuba Hassan dismantled the whole batting lineup.
She won the dream player of the match performance with best bowling figures of 3 for 8 for Pakistan, against Sri-Lanka on debut. For a moment, it felt like Pakistan Women’s Cricket has just found another golden arm. Unfortunately, injuries appeared an disrupted her way to the greatness. After recovery, Tuba has not created magic on the field, that she was appeared to create.
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The Next Step
Historically, Pakistan Women’s Cricket possesses more potential and talent than ever. Where we are today, is all because of the pioneering efforts of Khan Sisters, the result of Sana Mir’s leadership, Nida Dar’s aggression and Fatima Sana’s global approach. The contract signed by Fatima Sana with Birmingham Phoenix for 2026, is a breakthrough not only for her, but for every girl who dares to dream to wear this green nation jersey.
“There are girls all over Pakistan who want to play cricket, but they need opportunity.” Fatima Sana
The ingredients to greatness already exist. What missing is the recipe.
The Takeaway
Pakistan Women’s Cricket does not need another miracle. It does not need someone, who carry the nation’s hopes, it just needs a compact and well-organized system to run run everything and make everyone accountable. The responsibility now shifts toward the system rather than individuals to bear the burden for decades.
Once again, I will conclude this article with the hope and conviction that next time when I would be privileged to write about Pakistan Women’s Cricket will not be about analyzing another failure, but about their growth and celebrating their success.
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