“SANA MIR IK Pakistani”, the Face of Pakistan in Women Sports

“SANA MIR IK Pakistani”, the Face of Pakistan in Women Sports

The patriotic and inspiring way of Captaincy made her prominent on the world Map

Sana’s eight years like role model for juniors despite of all allegations raised by his Rivals

Pakistan Won 2010, 214 Asian Champions and Laurels of ICC WWC

By Adrees Malik

An ordinary girl (Born 5^th January 1986) with an extra ordinary confidence has started playing Cricket in her early age with the boys in the streets of home town. She was an impressive in interaction with opponents from early age and eager to earn National figure with pride. She was use to play cricket in streets as fast bowler. One of her friend told me that she was a big fan of Waqar Younas and like his run up as well, she also confirmed his respect to Waqar Younis in her various interviews as well.

Yes, I am talking about Sana Mir who is a Pakistan Cricket team player and more than that a very nice human being. She is currently an Ambassador of “Shaukat Kahanum” for the Breast Cancer Campaign and working with passion to aware the society.

But after a symbolic appearance and performance of Sana Mir in international Cricket almost of 12 years, now she is the “FACE OF PAKISTAN” and well recognized in all corners of the World.

Pakistan is a country where the women population is more than 50 % and education ratio of females increasing day by day, The girls are more talented and picturing the soft image of country with their hard work different ideas in absolute fields of Education despite of all social challenges.

Sana Mir whose debut was against Sri Lanka in 2005 at Karachi, this match was accounted only 21 runs in her scorecard but the technique and her bowling was impressive for the Team management staff and the Cricket Experts.

“Sana was so brilliant and energetic and at my first sight I thought she would be one who will rock and lead the Pakistan Women Cricket” Said Azhar Khan Ex Cricketer who was the match referee at that day.

Sana who is right handed bats-women has played 102 ODI’s until now, and in 93 innings scored 1370 runs with the average of 17 plus with the help of 3 fifties. She played most of the matches as an all rounder while leading the team from the front and in 100 innings of the said matches got 110 Wickets with a Unique Five-for.

A sharp mind Sana Mir was elected as captain of Pakistan Women Team in 2009 after her brilliant performance in World Cup Qualifier in 2008 (declared player of the Tournament in ICC WCQ 2008).

The legacy of her Captaincy also ended with controversy created by ex captain of Pakistan Team Shamsa Hashmi.

I did almost 10 interactions with her on one on one interview in Pakistan and abroad even in England and Sri Lanka as well.

She is someone different about her critics and never shouted or used any harsh word for them in all her answers with me during all interviews.

Sana Mir was prolific with her bat and ball in most of the tournament and shadowed exemplary role for her juniors. She is the only Player in Pakistan Women Cricket team history who scored 2034 runs (1370 ODI and 664 T20) and 176 international Wickets (110 ODI and 66 T20).

She was the leader of Pakistan Women Cricket team who brought laurels for Country in Asian History in 2010 and 2014 with Gold Medal in Asian Games. She was in ICC World Top 10 players in 2010 is also a unique record for any Pakistani Women cricketer.

She was debuted in T20 against Ireland in may 25 2009,and in 75 T20 matches she scored 664 runs with the average 14,She also took  66 wickets with one time 4 wickets in a match.Her Last T20 match was against India in ICC WT20 2016.

But the most Crucial Tournament for her Role Model Waqar Younis (as Caoch of Pakistan men Team) and herself (as Captained Pakistan Women team) is ICC WT20 2016. Waqar axed from Team from his job as Coach after differences with Sethi and she was also under fire because of some matches in the tournament.

She played her last tournament was ICC WWC2017 in England and in 9 matches of the tournament she scored 157 runs and grabbed 8 Wickets. The most brilliant performance of was against Austrlaia in Leicester on 5^th July 2017 (i.e 49 runs and 3 Wickets). In the next match she also scored 50 against New Zealand at Taunton in the same tournament on 8^th July 2017.

It was astonishing for me as a Cricket Writer and Sports Journalist when Ex captain Pakistan Team and Head of PCB women Wing Shamsa Hashmi conspired about Sana’s ability as captained.

Sana was in contact with me about the issue and even asked me about my story which was filed and circulated all over the world, “With a polite and gentle way”.

This is her characteristic that made her the Symbolic Sportswomen for Pakistani female athletes.

It's my guess as she is an educated and found of literary work as well and might be come up with the best strength after her retirement from the international Cricket.

The most deprived field for the females and they never feel easy to join the sports in 20^th century especially in professional games like Cricket and Hockey but Sana Mir made it easy for them to chose as profession with her strong work and character.

Now a day’s Pakistan has National teams in almost 10 games including Hockey, Cricket, Kabadi, Football, Basket ball, Volleyball etc and has regular participation in individual games like Athletics, Swimming, and Martial Arts in the events on national and                                                                                                 international events.

No doubt for me in admitting that 

“SANA MIR IK PAKISTANI”.She is a role model for all of her team mates and women in Pakistan.

Adrees Malik is writer and Sports Journalist from Lahore

Write for him 
AdreesMalik@twitter.com