Unveiling Jazbaa

Shortlisted for the Sunday Times Cricket Book of the Year 2023

Jazbaa - Definition:spirit, feeling, passion, desire, sentiment, emotion

In 1996, Shaiza Khan led a Pakistan team on a tour of New Zealand and Australia. While the tour was a failure on the cricketing front, the singular act of eleven women wearing flannels and battling for victory in the faraway antipodes was a significant achievement. These women had – individually and collectively – worked to throw off the shackles of social and cultural decrees that had conspired to keep Pakistani women away from sport for years. Even more importantly, these players were harbingers of change who became heroic role models for women back home and all around the world.

Unveiling Jazbaa tells the story of Pakistan's women's cricket, detailing the extraordinary journey the players have been on to bring about change both in their country and in the sport itself.

This is a tale told through the lens of society and politics, of personal battles and triumphs against the odds, of friendships and rivalries, of favours and revenge. Above all else, it is story of bravery and unerring will and a moving testimony to power of the human spirit.

Foreword by Kamila Shamsie

'Compelling, ambitious, beautifully written and about so much more than cricket' – Tim Wigmore, The Telegraph and author of the multiple award-winning Cricket 2.0



Aayush Puthran is a Mumbai-based cricket journalist who writes for Cricbuzz. Follow him on Twitter: @aayushputhran



'Compelling, ambitious, beautifully written and about so much more than cricket'



'Profound, poignant and important – this was a story that had to be told'



'A fascinating re-telling of the highs and lows of Pakistani women’s cricket. A must-read for any lovers of the sport'



'A history of women’s cricket in Pakistan is not only long overdue, it is a grand story in its own right. It is a tale of bravery and audacity, and of giant personalities who simply refused to maintain the status quo. This is an essential work'



'What a fantastic insight into the previously uncharted world of women’s sport in Pakistan ... A comprehensive and compelling account of the indomitable sisters who would not give up their dreams in the face of political and cultural resistance, personal threats and hardships, carried through to the teams of today who stand on their shoulders and continue their vision'



'Aayush Puthran movingly and eloquently tells the stories of the Pakistani women who have had to fight to play the sport they love, in the face of extraordinary societal challenges. Read it, weep for the lost opportunities and share in hope for the future'



'A forensically researched history covering the rollercoaster ride of the Pakistan women striving to embrace the game they love against all the odds. From the doom and gloom of the religious fundamentalism of the 1990s to the administration wrangles of the 21st century, Unveiling Jazbaa perfectly captures the shining star of their plight. A story that must be told'



'From running an obstacle race to worldwide recognition, Aayush traverses a difficult ground in charting the journey. The story of Pakistan women’s cricket comes wrapped in a labour of love, from India'



'A remarkable story, told with empathy and respect, Unveiling Jazbaa serves as a celebration of Pakistan women’s cricket – of personal journeys as well as those of the collective, in the context of society and politics, without hiding the warts, the stumbling blocks and the petty jealousies'



'While the history of men’s cricket has long been documented, stories of the women’s game, especially in the subcontinent, are only starting to be unearthed and examined and this is an important contribution to the archive. Aayush Puthran does an exceptional job of juxtaposing the socio-political situation in Pakistan with the development of women’s cricket. He treats the game with the seriousness it deserves, while not losing a lightness of touch'



'A fascinating collection of incidents and experiences of these women – full of striking events. An in-depth discovery and revelation of the history of Pakistani female cricketers and of the sport in a country where women's sports have just started taking shape ... hooked on to it from the word go. A must read!'