KARACHI, March 21: The news of Mrs Shirin Javed’s sad demise followed messages of condolence along with praise and rich tributes for her work and for her person from all quarters.
Women’s Wing Manager Ayesha Ashhar said it is not easy to let go of someone after working so closely with the person. “I worked with her for three years and got to know the real person behind the big boss.
“I never knew her to complain about anything or anyone. She was in so much pain towards the end but even then she would only thank the Almighty for His blessings,” recalled Ayesha.
“She worked diligently for the promotion of women’s cricket and it was her hard work that saw the women’s team taking the gold medal in the Asian Games last year,” she added.
Bushra Aitzaz, who took over as head of the Women’s Wing from Mrs Javed when she voluntarily stepped down from the position in Nov last year, said that she felt lucky to have had such a long association with her.
“I knew Shirin since we were in first year of college and I found her an amazing human being … never critical of anybody … very positive … very involved with all the people around her.
“It was her greatest wish before joining cricket in the larger sense to lead women’s cricket in Pakistan which I am glad she did very ably. She is the one who took women’s cricket out of the doldrums to the front line,” she said.
National women’s cricket team captain Sana Mir in her tribute to Mrs Javed said that the players including herself will really miss her support.
“She was a great lady who was always helpful, supportive and available for any kind of advice for us.
“This is a great loss. We will miss her.”
Saddened by the loss which he said was both personal and professional, PCB Director General Javed Miandad said that with Mrs Javed’s demise women’s cricket has lost a great supporter.
“She had done a lot for cricket, and especially women’s cricket for which, on several occasions, she even spent from her own pocket. But for me this is more of a personal loss as she was like an older sister to me who I knew from the time I was only a boy. May her soul rest in peace,” he said.
Meanwhile, President, Pakistan Women Cricket Control Association (PWCCA) Shaiza Khan has offered her condolences to Mrs Javed’s family with the hope that they find the strength to bear the loss.
