Jubliant friends, family cheer Sidra Amin’s brilliant partnership

LAHORE: Family and friends celebrated Pakistan Women Cricket Team’s Sidra Ameen’s outstanding 99 run partnership with Bisma Maroof which helped Pakistan secure victory with 21 balls remaining in a match against Bangladesh on Thursday.

The closely packed neighbourhood where she spent her childhood, lit up with yellow lights as men and children danced to the beat of Dhol.

If Pakistan was disappointed with the ‘men in green’, the girls made up for it. They distributed sweets and said that the men cricketers should learn ‘team spirit’ from the girls.

“Afridi should take lessons in batting from Sidra and Bisma. This is what cricket is,” said a neighbor who had come to celebrate, without breaking the Bhangra dance he had broken into.

“Look at how all the male cricketers are fighting over the batting line-up. The kind of controversies coming in the news these days have put the country to shame. But the girls have salvaged our lost pride,” said another neighbor who was distributing sweets.

As for Sidra’s family they had never been prouder. Her mother and sisters showed victory signs to the camera and her father looked beamed. “My daughter has made be proud. My prayers are with her. I hope the team wins the World Cup.”

He was happy, even though he had let his daughter wander the path less tread.