It is played on every available strip of grass and patch of asphalt, in every galli and mohallah. Hockey may be Pakistan's national sport, but cricket is the national passion. Of late, however, that passion has turned sour, with forfeited matches, failed dope tests, fitness problems, the early exit from the World Cup in March and the death of coach Bob Woolmer. It has been a bad year for Pakistani cricket, to say the least – for men's cricket, at any rate.
While the men in white are portrayed alternately as gods or devils, depending on the slant of the fickle public mood, the country's cricketing women have been building a team under the radar. Yes, Pakistan does have a women's cricket team. No, these women in white have not won a major tournament yet. But that must be seen in context.