Highlights
- Zoha plays Grade -1 in Sydney and wears a scarf as part of her identity
- Cricket NSW says there is no policy about not wearing something or wearing something
- Her current goal is to play in the WBBL (Women's Big Bash League)
Add another challenge; she is also net bowling for the teams competing in the women’s T20 Cricket World Cup taking place in Australia.
But it is the love for cricket for the 17-year-old that she is able to juggle all the balls.
“It was something I never really had to decide,” Zoha told SBS Urdu.
“I was born into a Pakistani family which means cricket is part of your everyday life, every event.”
Motivated by her parents and siblings, five years ago Zoha decided to take cricket as a future profession and within a short span, she is now helping the international cricketers at the nets.
Zoha attends Westfields Sports High, plays first grade for Campbelltown Camden team known as 'Ghosts' and has been associated with the NSW elite pathway for the last three years.
"My dream is to play the highest level of cricket and play for Australia."
Julie Stafford, Community Participation Manager at the Cricket New South Wales says the having girls in cricket are a great opportunity for the sports to grow.
Zoha Siddiqi, bowling as a net-bowler for the Pakistan women's team in Sydney. Source: SBS
“Having players from all around the world is a dream for us.
“It means that players from different nationalities can see themselves reflected at the top end.
"We are doing a lot of work at the grass-root cricket clubs, working with our wonderful volunteers and helping them get girls’ teams.
"We had an explosion of girls’ teams across New South Wales. Now, there are about 220, only girls teams across New South Wales."
Zoha standing next to the family's collection of trophies won in cricket. Source: SBS
Playing with a headscarf
As she follows the religion Islam, Zoha wears a head-scarf, which according to her “identifies herself”.
“I never had a problem playing with a head-scarf in Australia because everyone is educated and very kind to me.
“Everyone has been very respectful towards me wearing a scarf and been very accepting."
I have never felt alienated on wearing a scarf; people are really inclusive.
According to Julie Stafford, Cricket New South Wales encourages “everybody to play”.
It doesn’t matter what you wear, what you look like, you turn up in, you can play cricket.
“We are delighted that we have players from different backgrounds, and the more the better.
“There is no policy about not wearing something or wearing something, just come and play our game.
Is the scarf an issue? “Nope, not an issue.”
Inspired by her father and siblings, Zoha started playing cricket. Source: SBS
Inspiration
Zoha plays as an all-rounder, a left-hand batter and bowls left-arm chinaman.
Regarding her inspiration in cricket, Zoha likes Australian cricketer Rachel Haynes because she has a “similar batting technique.”
“I watch her game because it helped fix up my technique. I also like the way she is aggressive in the field.”
But her real motivation comes from the Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja.
“His journey is similar to mine. He is from the same school and played around the same regions in New South Wales.
“I hope to represent my community, religion, and nationality. I want to be the hope for younger kids, just like Usman Khawaja, Moeen Ali (English player) and Hashim Amla (South African player) was for me.
“They inspired me so I want to follow their footsteps."
Zoha’s father, Asim Siddiqi says the best thing about her daughter playing cricket is that she is “enjoying her life”.
Zoha played for both boys and girls team in school. Source: Supplied
“The school she attends has high standards of studies, attendance and behaviour. So she has already checked the boxes of a good student even before she plays cricket.
“Instead of any sort of discouragement, she is encouraged by everyone to develop herself as a cricketer and excel in the game.
Zoha says hopes to play “at the highest level”.
“As a goal, for now, I want to play for the WBBL (Women’s Big Bash League).
