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THE picture remains bleak for Pakistan’s women and girls. Some face judicial persecution — enough to silence all women-led activist movements. Others are subject to the worst brutality, such as the minor in Sargodha who was raped and murdered. The state’s response is to blame and shame parents for not protecting their children, shifting the onus of responsibility, and implicitly reiterating that a girl’s place is in her home. It’s no surprise Pakistan languishes at the 169th rank out of 181 on the Women, Peace and Security Index.
However, there have been sparks of hope in the form of women cricketers at their best during the Women’s T20 World Cup. The tournament is being celebrated as a breakthrough for women’s cricket, with record attendance at matches in England, and strong performances. The atmosphere in the stands has been electrifying — karaoke, dance-offs, Mexican waves and, most importantly, young girls and boys screaming the names of their favourite players.
Progress on the field has been accompanied by growing calls, including from the UK government, for the ICC to allow the (exiled) Afghan women’s team to participate in international cricket. Their absence from the tournament — but presence on its sidelines, hosted by........