\u201cI got introduced to football through, obviously, my brother, my cousins, my family,\u201d says Layla
\n KARACHI
\nIn the evolving landscape of Pakistan women\u2019s football, diaspora talent is playing an increasingly important role, and few embody that shift more clearly than Layla Banaras.
\nBorn in Birmingham in 2006 to a Pakistani father and English mother, Banaras has already carved out a professional pathway in English football while simultaneously becoming an important part of Pakistan\u2019s national team setup.
\nA midfielder for FA Women\u2019s National League South club Lewes, she represents a growing generation of British South Asian women breaking into elite football environments.
\nHer journey is not just about football development; it is also about identity, belonging, and opportunity across two cultures.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s like two different worlds coming together, so it has really taught me a lot about myself and about the world, really, and I think I\u2019m so grateful that I was brought up in that sort of household.\u201d
\nThat dual identity has helped shape her outlook, both as a player and as a person navigating the demands of professional sport.
\nLike many footballers, Banaras\u2019 earliest steps came far away from stadium lights.
\n\u201cI got introduced to football through, obviously, my brother, my cousins, my family. We always used to play in the garden, so that\u2019s what sort of, you know, pushed me to play football, sort of.\u201d
\nThat informal beginning eventually turned into a historic rise through English football. In January 2023, she made history as the first South Asian heritage woman to appear for Birmingham City in the professional era, debuting in an FA Cup match against Huddersfield Town. Later, she joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on dual registration before moving to Lewes in 2025.
\nNow firmly established in the English system, Banaras continues to grow as a player in a highly competitive environment while balancing her international commitments with Pakistan.
\nHer decision to represent Pakistan came at a defining stage in her career\u201cI think for me it was the right time in my career and my life to sort of take that next step to play international football and to represent Pakistan means so much, so I thought when they came, and they offered, I thought, why not, like just do it, and it\u2019s been a dream so far.\u201d
\nThat choice has added a new layer to her football journey, one that connects her to her roots while testing her at the international level.
\nLike many players of her generation, Banaras grew up watching some of football\u2019s biggest names\u201cI used to watch clips of Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, Ronaldinho, just all these legends really, and I think they really helped me develop my game and really inspire me.\u201d
\nSince joining the national setup, Banaras has quickly adapted to international football. In Pakistan\u2019s AFC Women\u2019s Asian Cup qualification campaign in Jakarta, she made an immediate impact from defence, registering assists in key matches against Indonesia and Kyrgyzstan.
\nHer performances reflect both technical ability and game intelligence, rare qualities for a young footballer adjusting to international demands.
\nBanaras also highlighted the importance of international exposure in shaping team unity and development\u201cI think the experience in West Africa has been amazing,\u201d she said about the Pakistan team\u2019s tour to the Ivory Coast.
\n\u201cThe hosts have been so welcoming, the people are really lovely, and it\u2019s a really nice place, and I think we\u2019ve really been able to bond here.\u201d
\nFacing different styles of opposition has also given her a clearer understanding of where the team needs to improve.
\n\u201cObviously, the physical side is really big, and it\u2019s shown us that we need to probably work more in the gym, but I think, to be honest, the playing style is quite similar, but I think it\u2019s just the physical aspect of the game, and I think everything else we do really matches in West Africa.\u201d
\nDespite challenges, Banaras remains confident in Pakistan\u2019s ability to compete on the international stage.
\n\u201cI think we\u2019re really excited. We\u2019re the underdogs. And I think we\u2019re really excited to go and show a world-class team what we can do and compete against them,\u201d she said.
\nBeyond her playing career, Banaras has also contributed to athlete welfare and nutrition awareness.
\nAs a teenager, she worked with Birmingham City\u2019s nutrition staff to create Ramadan-specific performance guidance for fasting athletes.
\nFor now, her focus remains split between club football in England and international duty with Pakistan.
\n\u201cAt club level, I\u2019m not sure. When I go back, I\u2019ve still got a week left of the season. So we\u2019ll see what happens in pre-season. And with the national team, I just want to continue to help it grow football to grow in Pakistan and for us to keep showing the world what we can do.\u201d
\nLayla Banaras represents more than a footballer moving through two systems. She stands at the intersection of English development structures and Pakistan\u2019s emerging football ambitions, a bridge between established professionalism and growing potential.
\nFor Pakistan women\u2019s football, she is not just a member of the squad. She is part of a longer project: building belief, experience, and identity on the international stage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cI got introduced to football through, obviously, my brother, my cousins, my family,\u201d says Layla KARACHI In the evolving landscape of Pakistan women\u2019s football, diaspora talent is playing an increasingly important role, and few embody that shift more clearly than Layla Banaras. Born in Birmingham in 2006 to a Pakistani father and English mother, Banaras […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":542465,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-542450","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n