One of the things I have come to appreciate most about cricket is that it is a huge force in bringing about cultural change and democracy in the social setting. Cricket is the forerunner, and works in the same way that art and philosophy work to pave the way for a huge shift in social thinking. Politicians and governments lag behind when it comes to these societal changes , and governmental reforms are reactive, not proactive when it comes to equal rights for all. Social changes, and women’s liberation in particular, usually come with a hefty price tag including violent protests, governmental resistance, and at times, total revolution, anarchy and chaos.
Sports however, can be and are a part of the arsenal of a Quiet Revolution for women in countries where females are actively discouraged from participating in public life. Cricket, for women in Afghanistan and the rather conservative areas of Pakistan, is a non-violent, inoffensive and religiously acceptable way for women to fight for their God-given equal rights. Slowly but surely these women who are on the frontlines of the women’s liberation movement are changing the archaic, outdated modes of thought on women’s role in present day society. The ladies, without the use of violence, are using cricket and sport as a means of peaceful protest against the status quo. Through the peaceful means of sport, the ladies who are enduring hardships in their countries are quietly revolutionizing society, and making life better and more equal for everyone. The fact that these ladies are not using violent means to achieve their ends and are using the friendliness of cricket to achieve radical change in a gradual, culturally acceptable manner must be celebrated.
Life is not easy for the pioneering women cricketers in their Quiet Revolution. In Afghanistan, there is always danger for women who are out in public, so women who play cricket must do so in absolute privacy. Misguided religious thought on the part of some dictates that women should not play sports, period. But rather than respond to threats of violence with violence, the women peacefully continue to practice the sport in secret. Their method of protest against the status quo, unfairness, gender inequality and discrimination is simply to persevere and never give up. Respect must be given to the women for not falling into the temptation of responding to violence with more violence. In an interview with the UK’s The Independent in March of 2012, Diana Barakzai, of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, said “Women are victims of unacceptable rules that prevented them leaving the house.”
“The boys’ national team had very good achievements during the last few years, and the reason is the strong support from the government, donors, and all other agencies.” She continued in her interview with the Independent, “If we also receive support, then I am sure we can have a brilliant women’s cricket team in the near future.”
Barakzai continued in the interview, describing how she and her four sisters were taught by their brothers how to play cricket in a refugee camp in Pakistan. She further stated:
“If we four sisters could not start playing and we could not support women’s cricket in Afghanistan, I am sure nobody would even talk about women’s cricket in the country. Sports are the Evangel for peace."
At the end of the article in the Independent, Barakzai stated: “[I] wanted to change the ideas of the Afghan people regarding women’s sports, as they were always against it, and I wanted to show them that Afghan girls have the potential and can be champions in the world.”
The situation in Pakistan must also be examined. Women there also face discrimination from a cultural, religious and governmental standpoint, but to protest, the women again refuse violent means and work to change the system from within by again, persevering. Sisters Shaiza and Sharmeen Khan introduced women’s cricket to the country in 1997, but were barred from playing in India by the government who further banned women from playing sports in public all together due to religious issues. However, by staying the course and continuing to play in various tournaments and weathering the storm of political and social instability, cricket has overall helped improve women’s rights in Pakistan. Women can play sports in public now, and the overall public opinion of women in sports is becoming more and more favourable. The women’s Quiet Revolution in Pakistan has begun, with cricket as the main weapon, winning over hearts and minds.
On a side note, one must also applaud the women of Saudi Arabia for their struggle on the front lines of the women’s liberation movement for the improvement of humanity as a whole. In a country where girls are not permitted to exercise let alone play sports due to pressure from conservative clerics and media who label sportswomen as “shameless”, the bravery of the women on the Jeddah United basketball team must not go unnoticed. Said 24-year-old Nour Fitiany, a player on the team to Asia.basket.com in an interview earlier this year: “ I hope that when they see that there are girls who really want to play, and who do play regardless of the obstacles that lie in their path, they realize that they have to do something.”
Women are fighting for the right to simply be healthy in Saudi Arabia, and it seems that some changes are slowly occurring. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the King’s nephew and a champion of women’s rights, includes women in the Kingdom Equestrian Team and has included them since 2007. Liberal people in Saudi Arabia support women who want to play sports and encourage them to continue, no matter what the obstacles. Fitiany, at the end of her interview, stated: 'I think women playing sports should ignore the criticisms they get from society. 'That is a kind of struggle, standing strong and not caring what people say.'
The bravery of the women in the three countries must be applauded; and the fact they are using non-violent methods to demand their rights is outstanding. The love of sport, and the love of cricket, is paving the way for society to accept that women deserve equality, are capable of equality and demand equality. These pioneering ladies illustrate perfectly how cricket and sport, when used as a means of peaceful protest, can radically change the status quo in a gradual way, making the world a better, more equal place.
GeoSuper