Football: Bend it like Banaras [Dawn]

by Shahrukh Sohail

Before the 2026 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers, most people could be forgiven for not knowing who Layla Banaras was, apart from hardened followers of the Pakistan women’s national football team. A month or so later, the conversation seems to have transformed, with an entire crop of fans adoring the 19-year-old from Birmingham, after an impressive debut for Pakistan across the three games.

Layla, primarily playing as a defensive midfielder, wowed audiences with her breathtaking through-balls that skilfully carved up defences in Jakarta, with highlight reels crossing over 1.1 million views across social media. It is rare for Pakistani football to achieve this level of recognition and never by someone so young.

But ability speaks for itself and, for Layla, it is a major milestone in a journey that started at a young age.

EARLY START

“I started playing football in my garden with my brother, who is two years older and a massive football fan,” she tells Eos in an online interview. Her brother also played for a local outfit and Layla would regularly accompany him.

“One day, his coach asked me to join in,” she continues, adding that she was only about four or five at that time. “I joined them and, later, my primary school team, too, before landing at Solihull Moors, which was a grassroots team,” she says.

It wasn’t long before scouts in the Midlands took notice and Birmingham City swooped in with an offer while Layla was only eight — a decision made easy for a lifelong Sky Blues fan.

However, breaking into English football is tough, especially for players of South Asian descent. Recent statistics put 1.45 percent of scholars (post-16 players) in football academies as South Asian.

SHINING ON AND OFF THE FIELD

With grit and determination, Layla rose through the ranks at St Andrews and became a key player for the U-21s, while proudly embracing her religion and heritage. “I had to educate people on why I was fasting,” Layla says of playing football in the holy month of Ramazan. At the same time, balancing her nutritional and dietary needs during the fast was something she had to figure out.

It led Layla, 15 at the time, to create a nutritional guide and plan for footballers who fast during Ramazan. The nutrition plan made headlines across the UK and added another element to her profile, as she continued breaking down barriers for the community.

Layla adds that the only challenges that she has faced are those faced by footballers, and none because of her heritage. “The first time I wore leggings under the shorts, I was warned by the referee,” she recalls. It was because I wasn’t wearing leggings of the same colour as my shorts, as required in football, she continues. “But the referee let me off and told me to make sure I didn’t do it again.”

Transitioning through the various youth teams, Layla certainly has found her stride, particularly after spending time, on dual registration, with Wolverhampton Wanderers last season, which plays in the third tier of English women’s football. Layla has made eight appearances for the senior Wolves side. She has also made one appearance for the Birmingham senior team.

The cherry on top for Layla was definitely captaining the Birmingham City team to victory in the U-21 PGA Cup Final, in which they beat Leicester City, having dispatched Arsenal in the semis. Layla’s performances caught everyone’s eyes and won her the U-21 Players’ Player of the Season at Birmingham City.

Layla’s exploits had already caught the eye of the Pakistan women’s national team, which had its activities disrupted after the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) was banned by the sport’s governing body, FIFA. Since the lifting of the ban in 2022, women’s football has gone from strength to strength, with a number of diaspora players joining the team, including captain Maria Khan, who plays for Vietnamese club Ho Chi Minh City.

DONNING THE NATIONAL COLOURS

Layla had reportedly been on Pakistan’s radar for several years but being considered for national team duty from her country of origin (Layla’s father is a British-Pakistani) took her by surprise.

“I felt quite honoured actually,” Layla tells Eos. “I’m just a girl from Birmingham. I didn’t think anyone would be noticing me from halfway around the world,” she says. “I got approached earlier as well, but this year, I decided to go for it.”

For Layla, stepping onto the pitch to represent her country was a surreal experience. “Everything felt right and it was unbelievable,” adds the young playmaker.

The team had the worst of starts, though, after being pitted against three-time Asian Cup champions Chinese Taipei, who clocked up an 8-0 win. But in the next game, the Shaheens showed massive character and bounced back with a superb 2-0 win against hosts Indonesia, ranked 95th in the world — 62 places above Pakistan.

Facing Kyrgyzstan with momentum, the girls showcased breathtaking football at times, slicing and dicing the defence with two early goals. Despite the nervous moments towards the end after Kyrgyzstan got one back, Pakistan never looked in too much trouble.

OVERNIGHT SENSATION

By now, the country was taking notice. Layla’s composure on the ball, ability to nonchalantly dribble past defenders and ping 30-yard passes on a whim were catching the attention of the Pakistani football community, with many saying they had never seen anyone as good as her play for the national team.

It was equally surprising for Layla as she came to terms with her new-found fame. “It was crazy,” she tells Eos. “I hadn’t seen my phone due to all the travelling, but when I finally saw it at home, it had completely blown up,” says the bemused teenager, who sounds mature beyond her years. “It was an amazing feeling but, for me, this is only the start, as this was my first camp,” she continues. “As a team, we have got so much more to give.”

After picking up two wins on the trot and securing six points in their AFC Asian Cup qualifying campaign, the future is certainly bright for the women’s team. And after the much-needed elections at the PFF, there is a strong case to be made for developing the women’s game.

Many in the football community believe that with the right backing, the women’s team have a real shot at reaching Asia’s premier tournament. With the influx of quality brought by the diaspora players, including Layla and her teammates Zahmena Malik (Cypriot club Lakatmia), Aqsa Mushtaq (Greek club OFI Crete), Mariam Mahmood (English club West Bromwich Albion) and Zeeyana Jivraj (US club Northern Colorado Rain) will enable that.

EYEING THE TOP

While the team may return in October, when the FIFA friendly window comes along, Layla is already on the hunt for a new challenge, having left Birmingham City after 11 years at the club. Her priority is to play in the Women’s Super League 2, the second tier of English women’s football. Once a regular there, says Layla, she can continue pursuing her dream of playing in the top tier.

Alongside her club career aspirations, she also has a new mission: to take the Pakistan team to the highest level in Asia. “It is more than possible,” says Layla enthusiastically. “I think getting two out of three wins while being together for around a week is amazing,” she continues, adding that the current crop of players is ready to compete against top teams in the world. “We are a very special group.”

Women’s football never gets the same limelight that is reserved for men’s football. But with recent performances and the love being shown by fans to stars such as Layla, it looks like the dawn of a new era is on the horizon.

The writer is a sports management and marketing expert. X: @shahrukhsohail7

Published in Dawn, EOS, July 27th, 2025