Jasia adds a Kashmiri touch to Punjab win
CHANDIGARH: While the action was unfolding in faraway Mumbai, celebrations were in order at a small village in Shopian, Kashmir.
Gul Mohammed Wani, a small-time farmer who rears apples and walnuts in a tiny orchard, was distributing sweets among villagers after watching his 30-year old daughter Jasia Akhtar hog the limelight in Punjab’s T-20 National Women’s Senior Cricket League win.
Jasia starred for her adopted state Punjab, scoring 56 off 54 balls in the final against Karnataka.
Her knock not only guided Punjab to their maiden title but she put Kashmir in focus. Needing six runs off the last over bowled by Neelam Bisht, Karnataka lost two wickets and scored just two runs. Karnataka needed 132 runs to win the final.
Six years ago Jasia was forced to leave Kashmir for want of cricket opportunities and set up base in Amritsar.
On Wednesday, she finished among the top-three scorers with 355 runs in the tournament.
“I was suffering from back pain in the semi-finals and in the final too. But I knew I had to do well and go for my shots in order to get big scores. I am so happy all my hard work has finally paid off. I spoke to my parents after the match. They were thrilled and celebrating,” said t he 30-year-old Jasia, who still dreams of donning the India jersey.
Jasia was in Amritsar when the 2014 floods reduced her fourroom house in Kashmir to rubble. The family of seven now lives in a two-room house.
“That was a dark phase for us Kashmiris. But we keep fighting and fighting,” said an emotional Jasia, who hit six boundaries and one six during her innings in Mumbai on Wednesday.
“The future of women in our state is very dark when it comes to sports. Our district is often shut down by curfews and we don’t have basic amenities. So, I had to move to Amritsar for cricket,” added Jasia, who has been Punjab’s mainstay opener in recent years though injuries have hindered her progress.
Selected for the India Red team in the Challengers Trophy ahead of the New Zealand tour earlier this year, Jasia had to give it a miss due to injury.