NEW DELHI: Zainab Abbas, a well-known cricket presenter from Pakistan, is all set to participate in the ICC World Cup 2023, commencing in India on October 5. She expressed her gratitude on X, previously known as Twitter, stating that she feels honoured to be a part of the presentation team for the Cricket World Cup 2023 in India.
Taking to the microblogging site, she wrote, “There was always intrigue on what lies on the other side, more cultural similarities than differences, rivals on the field but camaraderie off the field, the same language & love for art & a country with a billion people, here to represent, to create content & bring in expertise from the best in the business. Humbled to be presenting in India at the Cricket WC2023 for the @ICC again, a journey away from home of 6 weeks starts now.”
View her tweet here:
There was always intrigue on what lies on the other side, more cultural similarities than differences, rivals on the field but camaraderie off the field, the same language & love for art & a country with a billion people, here to represent, to create content & bring in expertise… pic.twitter.com/dvoRUASpmm
— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) October 2, 2023
About Zainab Abbas:
Zainab Abbas was born on February 14, 1988, in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Her father is the renowned cricketer Nasir Abbas, known for his role as a bowler in the Faisalabad and Hafizabad cricket teams. Her mother, Andleeb Abbas, is a prominent politician.
After attending Aston University in Birmingham and obtaining a Master’s degree in Marketing and Strategy from Warwick, Abbas dedicated two years of her career to working at Harrods, specifically with the luxury brand Dolce & Gabbana.
According to a report by The Guardian, during her time in London, she occupied her free time by closely following Pakistan cricket. She managed to save up enough money to be part of the enthusiastic crowd that witnessed Pakistan’s victorious moment in the 2009 World T20 final at Lord’s, led by captain Younus Khan, against Sri Lanka.
Zainab’s mother, on the other hand, holds a senior position within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party and secured a seat in the National Assembly of Pakistan as a representative for women from Punjab. Additionally, she assumed the role of Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Notably, she also had a career in journalism, where she covered cricket matches, including the 1999 World Cup. As evident from her biography, Zainab Abbas was raised in an environment filled with accomplished and proficient people, making her upbringing far from ordinary.
Zainab’s cricket odyssey:
Zainab, in 2015, participated in auditions to join Pakistan’s “Dunya News” for their coverage of the 2015 Cricket World Cup. This opportunity played a pivotal role in advancing her career as a cricket commentator.
Over time, she contributed to various sports programmes and eventually embarked on the endeavour to launch her own show, known as “Cricket Dewangi,” which aired on “Dunya News” from 2016 to 2018. Simultaneously, between 2017 and 2019, she engaged in a diverse range of web series projects, all of which contributed significantly to her growing recognition and success.
In May 2019, she achieved the milestone of becoming the first female sports reporter and commentator from Pakistan to provide coverage for the ICC 2019 World Cup.
In October 2020, she received an invitation to speak at the TedxLahoreWomen event, where she shared her experiences to inspire young girls who aspire to follow a similar path.
In 2021, Zainab Abbas marked her debut as a member of the broadcasting crew at Sky Sports. She presently thrives in her career, leveraging her multifaceted abilities as a sports commentator. Her journey has paved the path for women across the board to pursue their aspirations, even when those ambitions diverge from conventional gender stereotypes.
Zainab’s personal life:
In 2019, Zainab got married to Hamza Kardar, who is the son of Pakistan’s former Finance Minister and former Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, Shahid Hafeez Kardar. After two years of marriage, the couple welcomed their first child, a son, and named Taimur Hamza Kardar.
The ICC World Cup 2023 is set to take place in India, with 10 teams competing for the coveted championship at 10 different venues from October 5 to November 19. The tournament will kick off at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, where both the opening match and the final will be held. The competition will follow a round-robin format, with each of the participating teams playing a total of four matches.