India started the 2022 Womens' World Cup on an emphatic note, beating Pakistan by 107 runs on Sunday in Mount Maunganui in New Zealand. India have thus maintained their perfect record in the tournament over their traditional rivals and have a tricky encounter with hosts New Zealand up next. While they may have won the match, the Indian players were bowled over by Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof’s baby daughter after the match.
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Players from the two teams were interacting with each other after the game and a rather big group of Indian players had gathered around Maroof, who was holding her daughter, and playing with the baby.
Bismah had earlier spoken about what it's like to have her child in the dressing room. "A child needs the mother. If I had to continue my career, the question would have been – where would my kid go? And if I'm on the field, who will take care of the kid? Hiring a nanny and taking her along everywhere is expensive, and as women cricketers, we don't earn as much to afford such luxuries. Our contracts help us survive and make a living, but without a parental policy, it would've become difficult to continue playing with a child around," Maroof told Cricbuzz.
{{/usCountry}}Bismah had earlier spoken about what it's like to have her child in the dressing room. "A child needs the mother. If I had to continue my career, the question would have been – where would my kid go? And if I'm on the field, who will take care of the kid? Hiring a nanny and taking her along everywhere is expensive, and as women cricketers, we don't earn as much to afford such luxuries. Our contracts help us survive and make a living, but without a parental policy, it would've become difficult to continue playing with a child around," Maroof told Cricbuzz.
{{/usCountry}}“With a kid around, it's a different energy in the team, everyone feels relaxed. When you're too focussed on one thing, it builds pressure on you. When you're around a kid, all your unnecessary worries disappear," she said.