The pandemic has brought varying degrees of aftermath to the world. The consequential lockdown meant that the sporting calendar suffered a massive disruption. It is in these times that one should not lose focus and channelize the inner self. Pakistani Pacer Kainat Imtiaz seems to have done the same.
It is interesting to note that she made her debut for the National side in 2010. Her spell at the apex level has not been consistent though. The 28-year-old pacer, in the past decade, has featured in 12 one-day internationals and 11 T20Is. In an interview with Geo Super, Imtiaz has stated that she wants to take her place on the national side. She stresses that she seeks a “proper” place.
She says that “I want to make a comeback in the national team in a proper way. The time I spent in lockdown allowed me to keep myself focused. It helped me think about how I am going to take my career in the future and how to perform well for Pakistan in upcoming events”.
Kainat, importantly, has been invited to the high-performance camp in Karachi along with 27 professionals. She is heartened and says that seeing a ground after six months brings immense joy. The domestic cricket for women in Pakistan is slated to start from next month.
Kainat says that “We are excited and happy to be back in the sport that we all love. I had not seen a cricket ground for over six months. So, it is good to be back playing. The PCB has made wonderful arrangements for us to make us feel in a relaxed atmosphere. The time we spent before coming to the camp was tougher due to lockdown, but now we can talk to each other, see each other, and play with each other”.
Kainat adds that with the camp in place, players would find it easier to adapt to the game with their best. The competition would be restored with ease. On speculations of women’s cricket lacking a pathway amidst a global pandemic, Kainat says that delaying the World Cup has halted the preparations of the Pakistani side. She feels that the Pakistani players will be able to make full use of David Hemp who has been training experienced Aussie stars.
Pakistani players will be looking to regain their lost momentum in the coming domestic season. Kainat, on the other hand, will strive to be at her best to find a green jersey.
Source: Faizan Lakhani for geotv.com
A student who enjoys studying cricket more than anything else, keen to learn the insights of the women’s game.
