Emotional Farewell From Maroof Encapsulates the Legacy for Pakistani Women’s Cricket

Former Pakistan cricket captain Bismah Maroof recalls the puzzled expression that covered her daughter Fatima’s normally beaming face when she said a tearful farewell to her teammates in Karachi.

“It was an emotional farewell as I left the Pakistan squad and headed back to my hometown, Lahore; neither my teammates nor I could hold back.” Naturally, Fatima was unable to make any of it make sense.

The timing of Maroof’s announcement to retire from international cricket was unexpected, as it occurred just one day before Pakistan’s home T20 international series opener against the West Indies in Karachi. She was one of the sixteen players assigned to the task.

In women’s ODIs and T20Is, Maroof leads Pakistan in run scoring. “To be honest, it wasn’t a sudden decision,” she said. “Since the T20 World Cup is only four months away, it only felt fair that I walked away before the T20I series against West Indies,” the player said. “I had long considered my international retirement.”Since I wasn’t sure if I could play through until the World Cup, it was best for me to make room for the players who ought to have a more competitive run before the tournament.

For my family and my Pakistani teammates, the timing was ideal.

Maroof, who captained Pakistan in 96 games (62 T20Is and 34 ODIs), stated, “At this phase of my life, I felt my family should take precedence, so I discussed the matter with them and gauged it as objectively as I could.”It would never be easy to leave a team that I had been a part of since I first joined it at the age of fifteen. However, for the benefit of my family and my Pakistani teammates, the timing was ideal.

It was appropriate that her daughter witnessed Maroof’s last moments in the Pakistani cricket team dressing room, as she had grown close to the player on almost every tour since her inspirational comeback to professional cricket in March 2022 following childbirth.

It should come as no surprise that the social media image announcing Maroof’s retirement featured a picture of her leaving while holding her daughter’s hand.
Understanding Maroof’s influence on her sport, particularly in the context of the subcontinent, requires an understanding of the symbolism associated with Fatima throughout her career.

“Being a role model for women worldwide”

It is rare in this part of the world to find female cricket players competing at the highest level of the sport after marriage, let alone giving birth. Maroof has been unusual in that regard.
Maroof was the first to benefit from the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) newly formalized paid maternity leave policy, which was prompted by her pregnancy.

Upon her return from maternity leave, she was hailed as a trailblazer by prominent figures in the sport, including her peers, for leading Pakistan in the 2022 ODI World Cup in New Zealand. Following the India vs. Pakistan match in the world tournament, star Indian batter Smriti Mandhana posted a picture of Fatima in Maroof’s arms, surrounded by the Indian players, on her Instagram story. The post read, “…setting an example for women across the globe.”

An innovative story for women’s cricket in Pakistan

In response to Maroof’s announcement of retirement, Sana Mir, who succeeded Maroof, posted on her X social media account, saying, “Sad to see you go before the ICC T20 World Cup in Bangladesh later in the year.” I hope you find peace in your choice.You have been an amazing ambassador and a pillar of support for the Pakistani batting team.

In 2017, Pakistan achieved their first-ever ODI victory over higher-ranked New Zealand, captained by Maroof. She is the most-capped Pakistani woman in the format, and that win, along with her two gold medals from the Asian Games in 2009 and 2010, rank among her career highlights.
“One of my biggest takeaways from my 17 years wearing the national jersey has been the discipline that cricket has taught me through the ups and downs in my career and those faced by women’s cricket in Pakistan,” Maroof stated.

“It has formed my identity and core.”

Maroof said she hasn’t given much thought to what her life might entail after retiring from international cricket beyond playing league cricket. Although she considers herself to be a woman of few words and feels unfit for commentary, she does pledge to closely monitor the development of the women’s game in Pakistan moving forward.

“The challenges faced by female cricket players in my generation, or by those who came before us like Sana, are no longer present,” she declared. However, there is expectation pressure on the younger generation. And in order to live up to those expectations, we must fortify our domestic structure and bring it into compliance with international cricket standards.

“There is no shortage of talent in Pakistan, so I hope to see our team among the top four worldwide.” A small amount of assistance may be sufficient, as demonstrated by Maroof’s innovative story.