PCB steps back on its commitment to launch a Women’s version of the PSL
Former PCB chairman Ramiz Raja during his tenure in 2021 had a vision to launch Asia’s first-of-its-kind women’s franchise league (PSL). Currently, the Pakistan Super League is the men’s version of the domestic franchise league in the country. However, due to a constant change at the management level have drastically hampered the possibility of the launch of the inaugural edition of the Women’s franchise league.
Last year in 2023, there were three women’s exhibition matches were scheduled simultaneously alongside the men’s version of the Pakistan Super League involving two teams Amazons led by skipper Bismah Maroof, and Super Women led by skipper Nida Dar. Star players from various countries participated in the exhibition matches last year. However, there is no official announcement as yet regarding the Women’s exhibition matches this year.
“Every new administration who comes in also doesn’t necessarily have the same kind of interest in women’s cricket. I still feel Pakistan is at the emerging stage of women’s cricket and needs to go a long way. So the administrative turnover has a huge impact. We always wonder if we’ll have a women’s league or exhibition matches now, but if we had one chairman these question marks would not have been there. A couple of chairmen announced it’ll definitely happen but because every chairman had such a short span of time, they spent most of their time firefighting and couldn’t have a strategic policy.” The head of the PCB Women’s wing Taniya Mallick speaks about the uncertainties caused by the future of the launch of a domestic Women’s franchise league courtesy of the constant chopping and changing at the management level.
PCB steps back on its commitment to launch a Women’s version of the PSL. #CricketTwitter | via: ESPNcricinfo pic.twitter.com/Xps6OdIfqO
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) February 12, 2024
There is still a cloud of uncertainty around the appointment of a PCB chairman. The interim management committee led by Zaka Ashraf expressed their hesitation to financially commit to a women’s league further delaying the launch of an official women’s franchise league in Pakistan. Pakistan’s senior women’s team had a memorable time in the last few months, claiming their first-ever whitewash over South Africa in the three-match T20I series at home. The Nida Dar-led side also went on to clinch a historic T20I series win by a 2-1 margin against New Zealand, their maiden T20I series victory outside Asia.
(Quotes sourced from Espncricinfo)