A women's cricket match in the Charbagh area of Swat was abruptly halted by a group of local residents, including religious leaders and elders.
The incident occurred at the Charbagh Cricket Stadium, where girls from Babuzai and Kabal tehsils had gathered with the hopes of showcasing their cricketing talents organised by 12-year-old budding athlete Ayesha Ayaz.
However, before the game could begin, a group of religious leaders and elders descended upon the venue, vehemently opposing the idea of girls playing cricket in an open ground.
Witnesses at the scene reported that the protestors yelled and shouted, deeming it immodest for girls to participate in cricket. They went on to insist that such activities should not be allowed in the locality.
Cricketers express disappointment
Ayaz Naik, one of the organizers and father of Ayesha Ayaz, highlighted that many young female cricketers in Swat aspire to play cricket professionally.
He stated that several girls had reached out to them, expressing their desire to organize cricket matches and form district-level cricket teams.
Despite the enthusiasm of the girls and organizers, their hopes were dashed when the locals, particularly religious leaders, intervened and prevented them from playing the game they loved.
The disappointed female cricket players, including Humaira Ahmad and Sapna, expressed their bewilderment at the opposition to their participation in sports. They asserted that participating in sports is a fundamental right, and they aspire to represent their country on the international stage one day.
Security concerns cited
Charbagh Tehsil Chairman Ihsanullah Kaki clarified that the decision to halt the women's cricket match was driven by concerns about security in the area.
He explained that the presence of individuals with firearms had made the security situation unstable, leading to fear and apprehension among the residents.
Kaki noted that these individuals often sent threats and demanded money from local residents. He further emphasized that people living near the cricket ground were reluctant to venture outside their homes at night due to the perceived presence of militants.
While acknowledging the desire of girls to play cricket, Kaki mentioned that if the organizers had informed them in advance, they would have arranged for the match to be held in a ground with boundary walls to address the security concerns.
