In the realm of cricket, stories of perseverance frequently inspire both fans and players. Maham Manzoor, a gifted left-arm orthodox spinner from the Hyderabad Region, is an example of such fortitude. Despite financial difficulties, Maham’s unwavering dedication to her craft has lead her to represent her region and pursue her dream of representing her country on the international arena.
During the 2013-14 season, Maham made her debut appearance for the Hyderabad Region at the U19 level. With her natural talent and ability to spin the ball, the left-arm spinner swiftly drew the notice of selectors. Despite severe financial difficulties, she continued to practise and compete, aiming to build a name for herself in this sport.
Maham made her List-A debut in 2014, playing for the Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah Women Cricket Championship Seniors. This opportunity allowed her to test her abilities against more experienced players and earn vital experience. Although her team’s performance was not the best, Maham’s individual performances shone out, highlighting her potential as a rising star.
In an interview with PCB Digital, Maham discussed her journey to date. “I started playing on the streets, and my family was very supportive from the start, motivating and encouraging me to pursue this game,” she explained.
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I had no idea there was a game played with a hard ball; I used to play with boys with a taped ball.
“I was in school when I saw on the television screen that the women’s team was playing a cricket match,” Maham explained, “and then I came to know that there exists a women’s cricket team.”
Maham stated, “Javeria Khan inspired me; when I saw her on the ground for the first time, it came to my knowledge that she is a senior player, and watching her, I got the feeling that I should play.”
Maham’s journey has not been easy. Because there were less facilities in the Hyderabad region, she had to go from Hyderabad to Karachi to pursue her passion. “I had a residency issue in Karachi, so I used to travel to Karachi in the morning and after playing the match, travel back the same night to my home on public transport,” she explained.
She is from a low-income family and is responsible for supporting her family while pursuing her cricketing dreams. Despite these obstacles, Maham has never given up ambition of one day representing her country.
Maham’s father, who died in 2018, wished for her daughter to play for Pakistan’s women’s cricket team. “My father always pushed me to play this game, he encouraged me that a good time will come, just have faith,” Maham added, “and he wanted to see me in Pakistan colours once.”
Maham recently represented the Dynamites in the Pakistan Cup Women’s Cricket Tournament. Maham played admirably in the T20 phase of the tournament, finishing fourth among bowlers with five wickets from two matches.
