The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) under Chairman, Ramiz Raja’s tenure made a low-key launch of an upcoming professional Twenty20 (T20) league, the Pakistan Women’s T20 League to which a big shuffle has now been made following a regime change.
Following Ramiz Raja’s committee’s ouster, the new management committee, led by former board head Najam Sethi has decided to hold the inaugural edition of the Women’s T20 League as a standalone tournament moving on from the initial plan of playing the tournament alongside the upcoming Pakistan Super League’s edition.
Ramiz Raja during the launch of the league had said, “I am delighted to announce the women’s league. This league will attract young women cricketers to this great sport and help our current players further enhance their skills when they will get to share dug-outs with the overseas players. To amplify the coverage and promotion of this initiative, some of the matches will precede the HBL Pakistan Super League 8 (PSL|8) matches.
“This event is aligned to our strategy of making Pakistan a stronger cricket-playing nation across all formats and genders. We are not only creating attractive brands to strengthen our cricket economy but through this tournament are also providing career opportunities to our women cricketers. The more our women cricketers will participate in high-pressure events, the more they will learn. The PCB is a strong proponent of empowering women to shine brighter. By engaging our women, which form 49 per cent of the country’s population, we will enhance the economic and social prosperity of our country.”
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The PCB has moved the window from March to September this year for the first Women’s Super League, which will be held as a separate event from the PSL.
Also, there will be 5 franchise teams. #CricketTwitter
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) January 15, 2023
The PCB has allocated the September of 2023 for the inaugural edition of the tournament. The initial 4-team tournament is understood to now see 5 franchises and there will also be separate bidding for the franchise rights. The PCB for the tournament has already received interest from women cricketers from around the world to participate.
Geo news stated, “The sources added that the national cricket governing body plans to keep international women’s organisations associated with the United Nations, including the Malala Foundation, on board for the women’s league so that the positive image of Pakistan can be highlighted through the tournament.”
The PCB has boosted its efforts in improving the status of women’s cricket in the nation and the board recently successfully run the inaugural edition of the Women’s Under-19 T20 tournament which was a 6-team tournament played from the 13th to the 22nd of August, 2022 at the Lahore Country Club, Muridke.
Quote sourced from Geo Super TV
