'I instantly felt at home' - Alex Hartley on becoming first female coach in PSL history

Former English cricketer Alex Hartley is breaking barriers and reshaping narratives as Multan Sultan's spin bowling coach in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024, becoming the first female coach to hold any such position in the esteemed league. In the middle of all the endless meetings, Hartley's journey is marked by challenges, victories, and a deep immersion into Pakistani culture.

Hartley's arrival in the PSL marks as the league's first female coach marked a significant moment in cricketing history. Alongside Catherine Dalton, the duo started on a remarkable journey, navigating through unfamiliar terrains of coaching and cultural integration. Hartley, a seasoned cricketer herself, brings a wealth of experience to the fore, driven by a passion for the game and a thirst for learning.

Hartley's apprehensions about cultural acceptance dissolve as she finds herself embraced by the Multan Sultan's fraternity. Reflecting on her initial fears, she recalls. “Everyone is welcoming and understanding. Ali (Tareen, the franchise owner) has broken boundaries. When he rang me and told me I need you at Multan Sultans, I just couldn’t turn it down. It’s a lot more than cricket,” Hartley said to The Indian Express.

“As soon as I arrived, we had a team meeting. Ali sat down everyone and said this is your bowling coach, this is your fielding coach blah blah. I instantly felt at home,” she added.

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Need to learn a few words of Hindi, Urdu: Hartley

Hartley also spoke about her still not picking the Hindi and Urdu language. She regrets that she has still not picked up Hindi or Urdu words, though communication has not been an issue. “I need to learn at least a few words of Hindi and Urdu.

She has an interpreter to ensure her communication is spot on. The biggest thing that Hartley learned was the craze for tape ball cricket in Pakistan and started implementing it in her coaching style. Furthermore, the newly-appointed coach also spoke about young sensation from Sultans' Usama Mir.

“I think he (Usama) has put on a lot of hard work before the competition. He reflected on the World Cup. He came and told us straight away to look where he was leaking runs, and this was where he wanted to improve,” she said.

Hartley, who remains a stalwart for women's cricket, envisions broader platforms like the ongoing Women's Premier League (WPL).

“It’s probably one of the best tournaments in the world just behind The Hundred, It’s been played only in Bengaluru and Delhi. That’s a lot of games. Showing women’s cricket is accessible to everyone. I would love to see WPL getting more extended,” she expressed.

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