Maryam Faisal, Granddaughter of Former Pakistan Cricketer, Joins Scotland Women’s World Cup Qualifier Squad

Islamabad:Maryam Faisal**, the granddaughter of Pakistan’s former Test cricketer, manager, and selector **Colonel (Retd.) Noshad**, has made her mark in international cricket by joining the **Scotland women’s cricket team** for the **ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier**.

In an interview with a private TV channel, the 19-year-old Scotland player, who is of Pakistani descent, shared her journey into cricket, attributing much of her inspiration to her late grandfather. Maryam fondly referred to him as “Baba” and mentioned how his encouragement and support played a pivotal role in sparking her interest in the game.

“Because of my Baba, my twin brother and I started playing cricket. Baba was the manager of the Pakistan team during their series against Sri Lanka in Dubai, and we went to watch the match. Before that, I had no interest in cricket, but after that trip, my brother joined club cricket, and I followed suit,” said Maryam, reflecting on her early days in the sport.

Maryam Faisal has already represented Scotland in **1 ODI** and **6 T20 matches**. Her journey to cricketing success wasn’t without its challenges. She revealed that after struggling in the Under-19 category, it was her Baba’s encouragement that helped her bounce back stronger in the following season.

Playing in Pakistan, Maryam said, felt like a dream come true. “It’s a different feeling to play in the country of your roots. Playing in Pakistan is like fulfilling a dream, and I am living it now,” she added.

She also highlighted the lack of opportunities for young women in her community to take up sports. “Desi girls don’t usually come into sports, possibly due to family reasons or lack of personal interest,” she said, adding that her experience could inspire other girls to pursue their passion for sports.

With her perseverance and the legacy of her grandfather behind her, **Maryam Faisal** is now on the international stage, representing Scotland in one of the biggest events in women’s cricket, and hopes to encourage more girls to follow their dreams in sports.