Traded Barbie for Bats

It’s largely thanks to this positive attitude that Akhtar was able to graduate from playing gully cricket to making her presence felt at the university level and later at the inter-zonal games played in the run up to Rani Jhansi Trophy. She could have easily made a bid for playing in the big leagues but it was impossible to carry on. With all the disapprovals and everyday reprimands at home, she gave in eventually. “I couldn’t play for the country because I was unable to stand up to family pressures. I left the game at a time I was to performing at my full potential as a player,” rues Akhtar.

Akhtar didn’t stay away from the game for too long. On the advice of an acquaintance she made up her mind to pursue a coaching diploma from the National Institute of Sports once she finished her graduation.

“This was one way in which I knew I could stay in touch with cricket. I wanted to share my skills and techniques with the younger generation. Coaching presented the perfect platform to pass on my expertise of the game,” says the first-ever qualified woman cricket coach in Kashmir.

Today, as a cricket coach at Kashmir University for the last eight years, Akhtar has guided numerous prospective players coming from different parts of the state. “We have girls coming in from far flung areas. Last year, we had a girl from Pahalgam , who is now playing for Punjab,” she informs. Another former student of Akhtar’s has been representing Punjab for the last three years.

Girls in Kashmir breaking stereotypes by playing cricket

Although things are changing and people are accepting of girls taking to sports, Akhtar believes that more efforts need to be made by providing them with better infrastructure, coaching and more match practice. “There has to be more funding for the game at the state level. There are no proper coaching camps for girls and while there are local tournaments for the boys there are none for the girls. If they don’t get to play, how can they develop a match temperament? Just regular practice can’t teach them all that they need to know to be ready for the nationals; they have to play with different teams and come up against all odds to learn the tricks of the trade. Unfortunately, our girls don’t get much exposure at the local level and then they are directly promoted to the national level. That is the primary reason for their failure there,” she points out.

Even though she is closely watching over her girls, there are a number of boys who stop by to pass derogatory remarks. “See the environment we work in. Even in the university, people keep staring while we practice. I tolerate a lot, but these young girls would get demoralised.”

Sakeena Akhtar

For now – she is coaching around 10 girls. Asra Shafi, 23, is a spirited player who hopes to play at the national level. “I wish to represent my state and I will work hard to get there,” says a determined Shafi.

Shafi had started playing when she was in school and her passion has only grown. These days, as a mark of the changing times, many private schools have introduced sports as a compulsory activity for girls. Arif Hussain, whose both daughters are in the school cricket team, is slowly getting comfortable with the idea of girls taking to cricket. And yet, they are not ready to see this as a viable career option. Speaking for his lot, Hussain says, “I don’t see sports as a good career choice for girls. What will it pay them in the future? There is no scope in cricket, especially for the girls in the Valley. At least not for now.”

Hussain is referring to the reality today, but if Akhtar and her feisty students have their way then the future will definitely be very different. Howzat for hope!