Bismah Maroof: Inspiration for every girl to take up cricket
Bismah Maroof is currently leading the Pakistan women’s cricket team in the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup 2022. Lately, the Pakistani cricketer was in the spotlight when she was clicked with a few members of the Indian women’s team who were playing with her six-month-old daughter Fatima.
As the all-rounder has inspired every girl to take up cricket with her great comeback, here’s a detailed look at how she showed a great amount of determination despite her absence from the game for over two years.
Bismah Maroof’s motivational comeback after maternity leave
Prior to the Women’s ODI World Cup, Maroof had last played for Pakistan during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Australia where she was leading the Women In Green. Unfortunately, a thumb fracture ruled her out from the tournament and Javeria Khan played as the stand-in captain. Thus, Maroof had played her last match on February 28th 2020. She had also played her last ODI against the same opposition in December 2019.
The deadly COVID-19 had bought the world to a standstill throughout 2020 including the sporting world which saw many important tournaments getting postponed or cancelled. Thus, Maroof, who was recuperating from her thumb fracture, was not seen in action after that. In April 2021, she had requested an indefinite break from the game and was on maternity leave from thereon as she gave birth to her first child in August that year.
Four months later, she made herself available for selection for the ongoing quadrennial event in New Zealand and came out to lead the Women In Green just six months after giving birth to baby Fatima. The best part was that the southpaw dedicated her half-century to her little princess after having scored against mighty Australia during Pakistan’s second World Cup game at the Bay Oval on March 8.
Maroof’s unbeaten 78-run knock could not have come on a better occasion as it also happened to be International Women’s Day. She and Aliya Riaz (53) took Pakistan to 190/6 from their 50 overs.
After a huge 107-run defeat to arch-rivals India on March 6, Pakistan suffered another loss as they went down to the Aussies by seven wickets. Nonetheless, Bismah Maroof has really set an example both as a cricketer and a mother that ‘Where There Is A Will, There Is A Way’ and here’s hoping to see more of her individual as well as leadership excellence throughout the Women’s World Cup.
