Islamabad: Women in Pakistan are using street cricket as a tool to fight for their rights. Women and girls are posting photos of themselves taking part in traditionally male pursuits such as cricket, hanging out at the beach, climbing trees and eating in roadside cafés. These truck stops, called dhabas, are like pubs without alcohol and have given the movement its name: “GirlsAtDhabas.”
While women are more evident in the more cosmopolitan cities of Islamabad and Lahore, in many parts of Pakistan they are almost invisible, rarely seen outside women’s quarters. Street cricket is the latest frontline. Women in Pakistan have always been discouraged from playing cricket, even though the country has a successful women’s national side. After conservative students recently broke up a mixed-sex game at the University of Karachi, campaigners responded with photos of girls around the country taking part in street matches.
The viral movement has attracted support in India, where women’s rights are also a growing issue.
“Most of us could narrate instances of childhood where we were either told by the boys playing street cricket that we can’t play with them or were discouraged or not allowed by parents,” said Sadia Khatri, 24, one of the movement’s founders.
“Cricket on the streets is something girls aren’t supposed to do, so it seemed like a natural next step to take, after going to dhabas. We hope this next evolves to other traditionally male-dominated domains.”
Chai tea and chicken stew are the only options on the menu at the truck stop café on the outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan’s largest and most violent city, with 22 million inhabitants. Two young, unveiled women stand out from the regular crowd of tough Pashtun truckers. One is clad in jeans and sandals, the other in a shalwar kameez, a traditional outfit. They sip tea, order chicken and take selfies, posting them online and ignoring the stares of the men.
“It started with just us venturing out in the city among ourselves and putting up these pictures with the “GirlsAtDhabas hashtag” said Natasha Ansari, 25.
The movement swelled rapidly, spreading from one social network to the next. The hashtag has inspired spin-offs including “Girls-PlayingStreetCricket.” Though run by university students and graduates, the movement has attracted all manner of supporters.
