Nain Abidi: Changing hearts and minds in Pakistan

Following their encounter at the recent ACC Women's Twenty20 Asia Cup in Guangzhou, Hong Kong's captain Ishitaa Gidwani, who made her international debut against Pakistan in 2006, engaged Pakistan's star batter Nain Abidi in conversation in order to find out what makes a professional cricketer tick.

"We are not just playing cricket in Pakistan we are changing hearts and minds."

Ishitaa: When did you start playing cricket?

Nain: I was 21 when I made my debut in 2006 against India in Jaipur, scoring 23 not out. It was very special to play my first game against India. (Pakistan's women are about to tour India at present too)
I took inspiration from Imran Khan, he picked up the World Cup in 1992, and that's when I thought of cricket and then I went through a magazine, and there was an interview with a very good woman cricketer and then we arranged trials. 100 girls were called there and only six were selected. From that day I think I start my cricket.

Ishitaa: How does training work in Pakistan with the players being from all the over country?
Nain: We used to stay in our regions and practise there. Practise with the boys, U-19 and U-21. PCB gives us grounds and nets in the region. We practise individually until we get to the camps. Camps can be 4 to 6 weeks months or 10 days

Ishitaa: Is it easy getting time off work and studies?

Nain: We don't work. Nobody of us works. We are 24/7 PCB employees. We just stick to cricket 6 to 7 hours a day, when there's a camp it's 24 hours a day of cricket. PCB pays us a handsome amount so we won't want to work and go away from cricket.

Ishitaa: At Hong Kong we only get to train 3 times a week.

Nain: Since we won the Asian Games gold medal people are now appreciating us. We have hardly lost in the six years we have been playing. Even though a lot of people criticise us - we are doing something that is against women ?you are doing something that is not made for women, made for man' we are still going.

After the Asian Games gold medal we did not step back, the girls have worked hard, the management have supported us, there is a lot of hype from media, then we got a lot of internationals, we went to England and West Indies and did well and then we went to the T20 World Cup and beat India.

Ishitaa: How many tours do you have a year?

Nain: Three or four a year

Ishitaa: We have to wait two years for each tournament.

Nain: We have improved a lot and become quite professional - the girls are showing individual performances. A fast-bowler took a hat-trick in a T20 this year and I am the first one to score a century in ODIs.

The PCB are helping us, we are improving every day. They look after us, so we want to perform for them.

Ishitaa: How does a country like Hong Kong get better?

Nain: They would be as good as us if they played. It's not about going out there and hitting the ball, it's about mindset. Confidence. Teams should play better ones than themselves to learn and make rapid improvement. Look at Bangladesh and Ireland. They play against us and see how things are done better, that is why they are improving day by day.

Play good teams, play 24 hours, play around the world, reach your potential, (with the bat no one made runs but) Hong Kong's fielding was outstanding today, everybody impressed with their fielding and bowling - if you go for tours and play better teams they will definitely improve. There has to be a point for playing. When the people all around you understand this then it becomes easier but it can still be done even if they don't.

I was a child with four brothers and played with them every day, and would break lights and plants, My Dad scolded me a lot, we used to play in the streets, when I was older he didn't like that. My Mum said you have gold medals, lots of certificates for different sports, so you better go out and use your talent. I was 11 or 12 and my grandfather used to bowl to me.

I am from a Syed Ulama family, and it is difficult for a girl from that background to have them decide to send their daughters for studies and whatever they want to do. Even my relatives were against me playing cricket - ?not your game' they said - ?use my talent' they said - but my mother/brother supported me. I wrote a letter to an organisation and they asked me for a trial. My brother and mother would take me drop me in Karachi and people told them they were wasting their time and money?Now everyone is recognising us. I now sit with those who were criticising us and they support all that we do. We are not just playing cricket in Pakistan we are changing hearts and minds. Every women's sport, people are supporting because of cricket.

Ishitaa: What are your plans after you retire?

Nain: I have done a Level I course and then hope to do a Level II and Level III. I hope to take up cricket after retirement for the benefit of women, maybe as a coach or sports psychologist. Right now, I am focussing on playing.