A seven year old girl from North Waziristan has become an internet sensation after a video of her playing cricket went viral. Aina Wazir, who lives in Shewa village, surprised many people with her fast and accurate bowling.
The video was filmed by local citizen journalist and school principal Zafran Wazir. It shows Aina confidently playing cricket with a group of boys on rough, uneven ground near her home. Within hours of being shared online, the clip spread quickly across Pakistani social media.
Many viewers praised her natural talent. Some even compared her bowling style to former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn. Social media users called her a rising star and admired her confidence at such a young age.
Her video was also shared by Mohsin Dawar, a lawmaker from North Waziristan and former member of the National Assembly of Pakistan. He highlighted not only her talent but also the limited opportunities available in the region. He mentioned that Aina’s father had died in military custody a few months ago and described her strength as a powerful example of courage.
As her popularity grew, many people urged the Pakistan Cricket Board to support young girls like Aina and provide better sports facilities in remote areas.
However, along with praise, some criticism also appeared online. A few voices accused the young girl of engaging in “un-Islamic” behaviour for playing cricket publicly.
Despite the mixed reactions, support for Aina remains strong. Javed Afridi, chairman of the Pakistan Super League franchise Peshawar Zalmi, announced plans to include her in the upcoming Zalmi Women’s League. He also promised to provide her with proper training, equipment, and facilities.
Aina’s story has opened a wider conversation about talent, opportunity, and girls’ participation in sports in Pakistan.