Forbearing much but incessantly following their passion, girls in Swat district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa played the “first-ever” women’s cricket match in the Kabal tehsil on Tuesday.

On Sunday, girls in Charbagh tehsil were barred from playing cricket in the locality’s stadium by residents and clerics on the pretext that it was considered immodest and inappropriate for women to participate in sports.
Several clerics from nearby mosques and a group of elders had reached the stadium and stopped them from playing.

Charbagh tehsil Chairman Ihsanullah Kaki said the girls were barred from playing due to security reasons.
On Tuesday, women cricketers from Kabal and Mingora tehsils participated in the match.

The contest was held in the ground of Government Girls Higher Secondary School Kabal.

During the 10-over exciting game, Mingora women’s cricket team beat Kabal by seven runs.

A large audience witnessed the match, including female spectators, Babuzi Assistant Commissioner (AC) Luqman Khan, Kabal AC Junaid Khan, and others.

Trophies and cash prizes were distributed among the players following the result of the game.

Expressing her delight, one of the girl players said she was thrilled for being given a chance to play in front of a large audience and emerging victorious.

In a tweet, Swat Deputy Commissioner Dr Qasim Ali Khan hailed the performance and spirit of the girls and hoped that they would continue achieving milestones.

“It was a thrilling encounter. The skills exhibited were second to none. Keep rising the prides of Swat. For you sky is the limit. District Administration of Swat will leave no stone unturned to acknowledge & appreciate the proud daughters. Indeed the pride of the proud!!!!,” the deputy commissioner posted on social media platform X.

A match organiser thanked the district administration and hoped that they would continue promoting sports in the same manner.