First from Kalash Valley

Saira is an aspiring young cricketer, who is completed hard yards to play for Pakistan

Kalasha Valleys, known as Kalash, is a tourist heaven in the Chitral District of Northern Pakistan. The valley is known for its rich culture, and scenic views with mountains, streams and greenery.

As Kalash is a mountain valley and there are not many sporting facilities, it is hard for the residents to pursue any sport there, especially cricket. Therefore, they usually tend to move to other cities to follow their passion.

Saira Jabeen, born in 2001 in Rumbur, has followed the same suit to realise her dream of playing for Pakistan.

Saira is the youngest of five siblings. She has the complete support of her father, who is a teacher, runs a small guest house, works as a farmer, and is a tourist guide. With the little he has, he backs his daughter to play for Pakistan and live her dream.

Saira is the first-ever female cricketer from the Kalash Valley to play at a competitive level.

Like any other cricketer in the country, she started playing tape-ball cricket with the boys at the age of four. After school, she used to dress up like her male counterparts and then go to play in the streets.

Till eighth standard, she studied in her village and then moved to Lahore to pursue her passion. She stayed in the city for a month but returned to her native place as she was too young to survive on her own.

The 21-year-old then moved to Chitral city for four years for studies and completed her intermediate there. Though she managed to progress academically, she did not find many opportunities to blossom as a cricketer.

Saira was a bright student and her father wanted her to become a doctor, but her heart was at something else. As a result, for her love for the game, she deliberately failed the entry test and asked her father to send her to Peshawar, where she could learn professional cricket and also pursue higher education.

Her plan worked. She moved to Peshawar and got admission in the Zoology department. Moreover, she went to join JKD Cricket Academy in October 2020, where they initially refused to allow her at the boys club but later let her play.

It was tough for the passionate cricketer. Her classes ended at 2pm and the hostel cut-off time was 5pm, so she used to hide the kit in her bag, and from the university, she used to go directly to JKD club, played there for a one-and-a-half hour, changed clothes again to uniform and then rush back to the hostel.

She was the only girl playing with the boys, and many times she was bullied by them. Ignoring all the noise around her, she stayed focused and stood strong.

“Surviving in Peshawar heat was difficult as I used to live in the cold area,” said Saira while talking to Bol News. “It wasn’t easy to stay in Peshawar due to their societal norms. I didn’t get to play games and could practice only.”

She felt that her learning was being hindered at JKD, so she started looking for better opportunities. In search of better avenues, she came to Lahore several times and looked to transfer her admission to Punjab University. However, she was refused.

Left with no choice, the budding cricketer had to quit her studies after just two semesters and shifted to Lahore. She joined the Lahore International Cricket Academy inside Pakistan Sports Board near Gaddafi Stadium for a monthly fee.

“It was different when I came to Lahore, but I felt good and easy because everyone is busy in their own things. I train in the morning and the evening,” she shared.

In October 2021, she switched the academy and enrolled in Punjab University Lahore for Cricket.

She was coached by Mazhar Yasin, who also trained her male counterparts. In December 2021, Punjab University coach Irfanullah Khan visited the academy and identified the potential in Saira, and got her admitted to Punjab University on sports quota in BS Film and Broadcasting to play for the institution.

Saira had been a batter throughout her life, playing in the middle-order. A few months ago, the coach discovered her bowling talent and started training her as an attacker with the new ball.

“[Female] fast bowlers are fewer in Pakistan,” she stated. “Coaches told me I can bowl over 110+ kph. My goal now is to focus on batting and bowling together because of the demand in international cricket and become a quality all-rounder.”

The woman from Kalash feels she is talented with the ball in hand and has been impressive so far as a fast bowler.

“I am strong enough and I used to bowl fast in the early days. I am God-gifted as I have progressed well in bowling in just five months.”

In March 2022, she played in an inter-university tournament in Multan and also captained her team in a women’s day competition and won it.

A few months back, the Pakistan Cricket Board conducted trials at the National Cricket Academy under the supervision of Mohsin Kamal. Around 130 aspiring women, cricketers appeared in the trials, of which 50 were shortlisted, including the now-fast bowler. Following further scrutiny, she was shortlisted among 30 cricketers.

Saira has been impressing coaches and people concerned and was selected for Pakistan T20 women’s Tournament for Team Invincibles.

The inspiring cricketer wants to bowl fast and become a tear-away fast-bowler like Shoaib Akhtar.

“I want to become Shoaib Akhtar and would love to meet him one day,” she maintained. “Shoaib Akhtar and Brett Lee are my favourites, while I look up to Diana Baig as well as she is my role model, belonging to Gilgit Baltistan.”

Saira has been dreaming of representing Pakistan at the international stage. She wants to become the first girl from Kalash to don the Green colour and make her father, village and tribe proud.

She is already a role model for many girls of her village who want to excel in sports but are unaware of the road ahead. Her dedication and focus is setting an example for all of them.

“It’s a dream come true for me as I am the only one from Kalash,” she said. “Not many girls are interested in cricket in my area but boys have come to me to learn about the game.”