Hijab Zahid has replaced Haider Azhar as GM of Multan Sultans. This seems like a simple replacement of position by another person in a job but the catch is that it is not that common. Hijab is not only the first female GM of the PSL franchise but also the first female in South Asia to hold a GM position in any franchise.
Youngest, Most Qualified GM:
Hijab 28, will also be the youngest GM of PSL. She is also the most qualified GM among all franchises. She is an AMP certified Project Manager and a computer engineer. She has previously served as media manager of ISLU and head director at GRC. Ali Tareen, owner of MS, said that the vision is not about having a quota for females but providing them equal opportunities to showcase their skills. Most franchises in this day and age don’t even interview female candidates.
Power Dynamics:
Cricket administration roles are mostly dominated by men and many franchises only interview men for it. This appointment will be a huge step towards inclusivity and diversity. There are not many instances of female GM outside Asia either. Only three females have been previously in this position. At the BBL, former English cricketer Salliann Briggs holds a similar role for Hobart Hurricanes, while Sydney Sixers and Adelaide Strikers had Jodie Hawkins and Kate Harkness. There is no such instance outside of BBL
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Cultural Shock:
The most challenging part of Hijab’s job will be overcoming the cultural barriers. In this part of the world, men are not accustomed to getting directions from a woman. Women asserting their authority in a male-dominated work culture will be the hard part of this job. For Pakistan players, it will be totally out of the blue. This will be the first time they will be interacting with a female GM.This is because she is the first female GM in Pak cricket. From age cricket to playing for the national team, they have been surrounded and taken guidance from men. This will be a cultural shock. She himself said:
“It’s a lot harder to assert authority as a woman. It’s culturally harder for men to take directions from a woman. We have people in this industry who haven’t interacted with women in their lives through no fault of their own, especially in this power dynamic. So I expect we’ll have a lot of conversations and workshops about having a woman in a management role here. While people are used to having women in such positions in the corporate world in Pakistan, that is less true of the sporting world. In the future, we want to train people as analysts, presenters, and media managers. It will open doors for a lot of women.”
Conclusion:
Hijab Zahid’s historic appointment as the first female GM of a PSL franchise marks a groundbreaking step towards inclusivity and diversity in the male-dominated realm of cricket administration. Her impressive qualifications and credentials as an AMP certified Project Manager and computer engineer combined with her experience as a media manager and head director, demonstrate her readiness for the role. With her pioneering role, Hijab paves the way for more women to assume leadership positions, contributing to the development of a more diverse and inclusive sporting landscape.
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