Bismah Maroof opts out of Asian Games due to 'No-Children Rule'

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that Bismah Maroof will not take part in the 2022 Asian Games, slated to take place in September at Hangzhou in China. The former Pakistan captain pulled out due to the 'No Children Rule' at the tournament venue. Notably, Pakistan named a 15-member squad for the tournament on July 25, with Nida Dar set to lead.

Tania Mallick, Head of Women Cricket, stated that participating in the Asian Games will be an outstanding experience for the Pakistan team. She added that the players have demonstrated amazing dedication and skill, and they now have a chance to create history by winning the title for the third time. In particular, Pakistan women's team clinched gold medals in the previous two editions, in 2010 and 2014.

“Being a part of the Asian Games is an exhilarating experience for our team. It's not just about the competition; it's about camaraderie, sportsmanship, and representing the country with pride. Our players have shown incredible dedication and skill, and now they have a golden opportunity to make history by winning the coveted title for the third time," Mallick was quoted as saying on the PCB website. 

Mallick further confirmed that the Pakistan team will miss Maroof's services since she would not have been permitted to accompany her infant daughter to the tournament village due to the rules. She also wished luck for Ayesha Naseem, who called time on her career after competing in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup.

“The team is unfortunate to miss out on the services of Bismah Maroof for this event as she would not have been able to accompany her infant daughter to the Games village due to the regulations in place. We also wish the best of luck to Ayesha Naseem in her future endeavours as the PCB understands and respects her decision to quit the game for personal reasons," Mallick added.