Pakistan’s first woman commentator shuts down a reporter after being questioned for wearing heels on pitch

Despite achieving unprecedented success while representing the national side, women cricketers are still compared to their male counterparts. In cricket-obsessed nations like India and Pakistan, women players– despite excelling on the field– are often labelled inferior to the male cricketers.

One such instance had happened back in 2017 when India Women’s skipper Mithali Raj was asked about her favourite men’s cricket. Raj, in a witty way, had said that they should ask the same question to male cricketers too. Raj had also highlighted that the India Women side does not receive the same amount of publicity as the men’s team.

In another such incident, Pakistan’s first woman cricket commentator and former cricketer Marina Iqbal was recently targetted by a sports reporter for wearing heels on the pitch. While sharing two pictures of Marina, the reporter questioned her decision to roam around the wicket in heels.

“Is it legal to roam around on the pitch wearing heels? Need opinions,” Qadir Khwaja wrote on Twitter in Urdu.

کیا پچ پر ہیل والی جوتی پہن کر ٹہلنا قانونی ہے؟؟؟
رائے چاہیے@sohailimrangeo @anussaeed1 @Shoaib_Jatt @hashmi_shahid @MarinaMI_24 @NT20Cup @TheRealPCB #NationalT20Cup #NT20CUP pic.twitter.com/2dF7Jug5SK

— Qadir Khawaja (@iamqadirkhawaja) October 5, 2020

I am a former Pakistan player and I know the protocols: Marina Iqbal

But little did he know that Marina was ready with a fitting response. She hit back at Qadir’s ‘half-knowledge’ and schooled him for jumping the gun. Marina clarified and shared more pictures from different angles. In those pictures, it was revealed that she was wearing flat shoes while on the pitch. While during the pre-match discussion, she switched to heels.

“Half knowledge can be dangerous Qadir. It’s flats on pitch and heels in pre-match. I am a former Pakistan player, I know the protocols,” she wrote.

Half knowledge can be dangerous Qadir. It's flats on pitch and heels in pre match. I am a former Pakistan player, I know the protocols. pic.twitter.com/8DcrG8UWgT

— Marina Iqbal (@MarinaMI_24) October 5, 2020

Twitter was all praise for Marina after her savage reply. 33-year-old Marina played for Pakistan for nearly 6 years. After making her debut in 2009, she donned the green jersey in 36 ODIs and 42 T20Is, where she scored 436 and 340 runs respectively.

After playing her final ODI against New Zealand in 2017, Marina shifted to the commentary world and made her debut during the Pakistan-Australia women’s cricket series held in Malaysia. Her decision to shift to commentary also earned her many accolades. On her debut appearance in the commentary box, she was congratulated by many prominent names including former Pakistan skipper Mohammad Hafeez.