Inaugural Women’s Pacific Cup 2022 to be played from 3rd to 6th October in Vanuatu

Vanuatu Cricket Association (VCA) is all set to host the inaugural edition of the Women’s Pacific Cup T20 tournament from the 3rd to the 6th of October, 2022 at Port Vila. The event will feature Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Samoa competing in a double round-robin group stage format competition which will then have the table toppers claim the title.

 

 

It could well be termed as the start of a new era of Women’s Cricket in the Pacific as there generally isn’t much exposure for the women’s game apart from the International Cricket Council (ICC) sub-regional/regional qualifiers and the Pacific Games that are held ones in every four years and cricket isn’t necessarily always a part of the Games event.

The last ICC Women’s T20 World Cup East Asia Pacific (EAP) region qualifiers were canceled due to travel complications following the Covid-19 pandemic and Papua New Guinea were handed a direct entry from the region into the recently concluded ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers that were held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the team (PNG) finished at 5th place in the 8-team event.

Hosts Vanuatu and visitors Fiji and Samoa last played an international game back in 2019 during the Pacific Games Women’s Cricket Competition, while Papua New Guinea have become a regular feature in the ICC T20 World Cup qualifying events having played in the 2019 and 2022 Qualifiers.

The Pacific Games Women’s T20 Games when was played back in 2019 featuring the same 4 sides; Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu, the tournament had PNG and Samoa finished with 10-points each having won 5 games and lost 1 of their 6. Vanuatu won a couple and lost 4 games of their 6, while Fiji remained winless through the competition.

The final that was played between PNG and Samoa had the former restricted to the score of 72/7 in 20 overs that Samoa in reply chased down to win the competition by 4 wickets and 9 balls to spare. The competition will be a new one, but the rivalry will be the same old one on display when Papua New Guinea (PNG) who now are a lot better side take field against Samoa on the opening day (October 3) wanting to change history, while Samoa will look to extend the lead that they managed against the side from back in 2019.

Women’s Pacific Cup 2022 Schedule :