Bismah baby of Pak women cricket team
Bureau Report

LAHORE—At an age of just 15 years, she is the baby of the team, but as a key member of the squad that helped Pakistan qualify for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009, the Asia Cup is an exciting opportunity for Bismah Maroof to showcase her undoubted talent.
The 15-year-old sees this event, which begins in Dambulla, Sri Lanka on Friday, as an excellent build up to next year’s global event. “I have learnt a lot from this tournament before and so I will be very happy to beat Sri Lanka and give India some good matches as well”, she said in an interview with APP here from Sri Lanka
Her hero is Australian mighty batsman Adam Gilchrist, surprisingly some of the similarities between them.
“I am left handed and he is too, we both open the batting and we both have an aggressive attitude”,she added. Still at school, where her favourite subject is Maths, she loves playing cricket and football games on the computer.
Despite her experience at international level, it is easy to forget she is still just 15 years old, and enjoys being the junior member of the squad, being particularly close to her great friend Sajjida Shah.
“I like to be the youngest as everyone takes care of me and I enjoy learning from the senior players”,said Bismah in a lighter vein.
Pak national teams preparations are focused on ensuring that Pakistan put up a good performance in the ICC Women’s World Cup, where their lack of matches against some of the world’s leading sides may prove a challenge.
“I am looking forward to the whole experience and playing against the big countries such as Australia, India and New Zealand. I want to have fun as well.I will be very proud to be part of that team and hopefully bring some glory to the country.
One of her unfulfilled ambitions is to meet Gilchrist and to ask him only one question “ How he became such a good player. But unlike Gilchrist, there is nothing more she likes to do than entertain her teammates with her love of dancing to a “ bangra” beat.