Long before Pakistan became a competitive force in women’s cricket, two determined sisters dared to challenge convention and change the country’s sporting history. Shaiza Khan and Sharmeen Khan are widely regarded as the pioneers of women’s cricket in Pakistan, laying the foundation for a national team at a time when the idea of women playing the sport faced immense resistance.
Raised in a cricket-loving family, the Khan sisters developed a passion for the game while living in England. Inspired by the growth of women’s cricket abroad, they envisioned giving Pakistani women the same opportunity to represent their country on the international stage. At the time, however, Pakistan had no organized women’s cricket structure, no official team and little public acceptance of female participation in the sport.
Undeterred, the sisters established the Pakistan Women’s Cricket Control Association (PWCCA) in 1996. Their mission was ambitious: recruit players, organize training camps and build Pakistan’s first-ever women’s national cricket team. Their efforts were met with criticism, legal challenges and even death threats from conservative groups opposed to women’s sports. Despite these obstacles, Shaiza and Sharmeen refused to abandon their dream.
Their determination paid off in January 1997 when Pakistan’s women’s cricket team played its first international matches during a tour of New Zealand and Australia. Shaiza captained the historic side, while Sharmeen represented Pakistan as one of its leading bowlers. Although victories were scarce, the tour marked Pakistan’s official entry into international women’s cricket and secured qualification for the 1997 Women’s Cricket World Cup.
Pakistan women’s squad for the 1997 Women’s World Cup Courtesy of Kiran Baluch
The sisters’ achievements extended beyond the field. They successfully gained recognition for Pakistan within the international women’s cricket community, helping establish the structures that would eventually allow the sport to flourish nationwide. Their pioneering work inspired future generations of cricketers, including stars such as Sana Mir, Bismah Maroof and Nida Dar, who would later lead Pakistan to international success and inspire millions of young girls.
Today, Pakistan’s women’s cricket team competes regularly in ICC tournaments and enjoys growing support both at home and abroad. Every international appearance, every milestone and every victory can be traced back to the courage and perseverance of two sisters who refused to accept that cricket belonged only to men.
Shaiza and Sharmeen Khan did more than form a cricket team—they transformed a nation’s sporting landscape. Their story remains one of the most inspiring chapters in Pakistan’s sporting history, proving that determination and vision can overcome even the greatest barriers and create opportunities for generations to come.
