Shaiza Khan, born 18 March 1969, is the first test and ODI captain for Pakistan’s women cricket team. She is the most important figure in the women’s cricket team in the country for her efforts and world records earned over the years in the field. She is also known as the modern-day pioneer of women’s cricket in Pakistan.
The former Pakistani cricketer captained the women’s team in 3 Test Matches and 40 One Day International Matches. She is the most talented leg-break bowler who took 23 wickets in the National Stadium, Karachi. She also has a world record of taking the highest wickets. In her 3 Test matches, she took 19 wickets.
Other than that, she holds the world record for Highest Wickets in a Test Match (13 wickets) against West Indies in 2004 in Karachi. During her 13 wicket haul, she also got a hat-trick which is only the second in women’s test history after Betty Wilson. She still holds the record for the best bowling in a test match(13-226).
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Shaiza was born into a wealthy family to a merchant. First, she attended the Convent of Jesus & Mary Karachi and then studied in England at Shrewsbury school. Later at the University of Leeds, where her area of learning was Textile Engineering. This is where her true passion for cricket aroused; she became the first Non-British Captain for the University Of Leeds Women’s Cricket Team.
Upon returning from England, Shaiza and her sister, Sharmeen Khan, wanted to form a Pakistani women’s cricket team, but unfortunately, there were many hurdles on their way to do so. They even received death threats. PCB, gender and cultural pressures were also in full force.
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Regardless of all odds, the two were determined for women to have their very own team. The family set a ground for the women to play, and also, PWCCA was formed in direct conflict with PCB. Shaiza successfully formed a women’s team and took them overseas to play with different countries. At first, the team miserably lost but later won in 2004 and from there onwards Pakistani women’s team was finally in the game.
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