Birmingham: Pakistan women’s cricket team skipper Bismah Maroof’s infant daughter, Fatima Maroof, was denied entry to the Commonwealth Games village in Birmingham.
Maroof has been debating whether or not to compete in the CWG, which will be held in Birmingham from July 25 to August 8. According to ESPNCricinfo, she will go to the games with her daughter and mother, who will look after Fatima, and will stay in a hotel outside of the village.
However, after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) requested two additional rooms for Maroof’s mother and daughter in the hamlet, the CWG Federation instructed the PCB to withdraw two persons from their 22-member travelling party, including officials. In reply, PCB said that it was unable to exclude any players or officials from the tour.
Maroof had recently travelled to New Zealand during the 2022 Women’s World Cup with her daughter and mother. As per PCB’s maternity policy, a mother is allowed “to travel with a support person of her choice to assist in caring for her infant child”, with travel and accommodation costs shared equally between the board and the player.
“I want to thank the Pakistan Cricket Board for its immense support throughout my career and especially in helping me strike the right work-life balance after the birth of Fatima,” Maroof earlier said.
“There was a time when I contemplated giving up on my passion of playing cricket, but the PCB ensured it never came to that with the introduction of the maternity policy, which has made the game as inclusive as it can be for the women in our country. I also want to thank my family and especially my husband, Abrar, who has been a great support throughout my career and has provided me encouragement to continue to play for Pakistan.”
