Nuzhat Parween has scripted an inspirational story by making India’s women’s cricket squad for the upcoming World Cup, which will begin on 24 June in England.
The 21-year-old, who has played 3 T20Is and 1 ODI, made her international debut against West Indies in November 2016, six years after taking up wicket-keeping gloves in a town called Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh, according to News18.
She is the first woman to be picked for the national team (cricket) from the Rewa division.
Incidentally, Parween didn’t start playing cricket by choice. In 2011, when administrators in Singrauli decided to form a women’s team for an inter-district tournament, they had a shortage of players.
Parween, who was playing junior national football at that time, was told to join the team and she agreed hesitatingly.
However, joining Singrauli’s team turned out to be the best decision of her life. She performed well with the gloves and by 2016 made it to the Indian team for the three-match T20 series against West Indies at home.
Even though Parween came from a town which didn’t have enough facilities for cricket, she always had support from her family to play the game.
Neighbourhood aunties used to complain to my mother that me playing with boys does not look good but my family never paid heed.Nuzhat Parween
The Madhya Pradesh girl’s father Masih Alam works for Northern Coal Fields Limited and her elder brother living in the USA has always supported her at every turn of her life.
Apart from cricket, Nuzhat also pursues B Com, a distance education course, as cricket takes up most of her time.
Since 2011, Singrauli has moved from having one women’s cricket team to five!
Recognition and facilities are really lesser when it’s compared to men’s cricket but things are improving really fast.Nuzhat Parween
The District Cricket Association (DCA) secretary Vijayanand Jaiswal was the one who spotted Parween’s talent and urged her to take up the sport.
With her sheer grit and hard work, she broke into the national team within six years.Vijayanand Jaiswal
Nuzhat Parween is in the World Cup squad as a back-up wicket-keeper for Sushma Verma. She will be hoping to get a few games and win the World Cup for India.
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