Nida Dar ©Getty
Nida Dar’s rise in the world of cricket is more than a story of athletic achievement – it is a tale of resilience, defiance, and cultural transformation. Known to many as “Lady Boom Boom” for her powerful all-round performances, Nida Dar has not only broken records but also shattered long-standing gender norms that once kept women off the pitch in Pakistan. Her career marks a significant shift in how sport, leadership, and womanhood are understood in a country where such domains have traditionally been reserved for men.
Nida Dar’s path to cricketing stardom was paved with profound personal and structural challenges that reflect the broader struggles faced by women in Pakistan’s patriarchal society. Growing up in Gujranwala, a conservative city where athletic pursuits for women were virtually unheard of, Nida had to navigate her passion for cricket in secrecy. Early in her career, she disguised herself as a boy – cutting her hair short and wearing loose clothes – to avoid public scrutiny and familial backlash while playing in male-dominated spaces. This wasn’t just about hiding from societal disapproval; it was about survival in a culture where women were often discouraged, even punished, for asserting independence or seeking visibility in public life. She also had to contend with limited access to coaching, training facilities, and female role models. There were no academies for girls, no professional leagues, and barely any financial support, forcing her to push herself in environments not built to support her ambition.
Behind the fame, however, are layers of struggle that underline the systemic barriers faced by women athletes in Pakistan. Even after entering the national team, the lack of institutional support and gender-sensitive policies in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) remained a major obstacle. For years, women’s cricket existed on the periphery – underfunded, under-promoted, and under-appreciated. Nida and her teammates often played in substandard conditions, with limited travel budgets and little to no media coverage. The absence of a women’s league equivalent to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) deprived them of the visibility, income, and growth opportunities available to their male counterparts. Economic constraints, lack of sponsorships, minimal access to training facilities, and little media coverage have consistently impeded the development of women’s cricket. The PCB, though making slow progress, still lacks significant female representation in its decision-making bodies. This absence of women in governance roles often results in a lack of gender-sensitive policies and deprives female athletes of long-term developmental support.
Additionally, as a woman in leadership, Nida had to navigate not just team strategy but also entrenched gender dynamics within a cricketing ecosystem that offered minimal representation for women in governance or coaching roles. Her struggle, then, was not just about outperforming opponents on the field – it was about forcing an entire system to see and value her presence.
Despite the odds, Nida Dar’s cricketing trajectory has been nothing short of extraordinary. She made her international debut in 2010 and quickly cemented her place as one of the most formidable off-spinners in the women’s game. In June 2021, she became the first Pakistani cricketer – male or female – to take 100 wickets in Twenty20 Internationals (T20I), a landmark achievement that spoke volumes about her skill, consistency, and endurance. By May 2024, she had become the second-highest wicket-taker in Women’s T20I history, only behind England’s Sophie Ecclestone. She also reached 100 One Day International (ODI) wickets in 2024, making her the second Pakistani woman to do so after Sana Mir.
But Dar’s contribution to the sport goes far beyond personal statistics. She was appointed vice-captain for the 2022 International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and was made captain of the national side in April 2023. Under her leadership, Pakistan secured its first-ever T20I series win on New Zealand soil – a historic moment for the country’s women’s cricket team and a statement of intent to the global cricketing world. Her captaincy brought a renewed sense of purpose, visibility, and belief to a team that has long played in the shadows of the men’s game.
In April 2025, Nida announced she would be stepping away from cricket to focus on her mental health. The statement was met with both concern and admiration. In a country where discussions around emotional well-being are still largely stigmatized, particularly in elite sport, Nida’s honesty was a brave reminder of the human cost behind public success. Her decision to take a break underlined a broader issue: the psychological burden carried by women who break barriers in unsupportive systems.
Yet her impact endures. Nida Dar has inspired a new generation of Pakistani girls to pick up a bat or ball and dream bigger. Her story has helped shift public attitudes, showing that a woman can be both fierce and feminine, athletic and respected, competitive and culturally rooted. In doing so, she’s contributed to reshaping what is possible for Muslim women in sport – not just in Pakistan, but across the world.
In a nation still negotiating the boundaries of gender and public life, Nida Dar’s legacy is not only about the records she holds or the matches she’s won. It’s about the space she has carved – both literal and symbolic – for others to follow. Through courage, skill, and uncompromising commitment, she has transformed cricket from a game into a movement, from a personal pursuit into a public cause. And in doing so, she has become one of Pakistan’s most powerful sporting symbols of what happens when women are finally allowed to lead.
By Sara Zahoor
Sara Zahoor is a current undergraduate student at Trinity College, pursuing a B.A. in Public Policy & Law with a concentration in Policy Analysis. She can be contacted at @ssarazahoor@gmail.com.
Here at Women Living Under Muslim Law, we believe it’s not only important, but vital to acknowledge and share the achievements of women. To claim their equal citizenship, as well as the right to both shape and reshape cultural settings that have historically excluded women, much to the detriment of national and global prosperity.