Women’s Global Development Squad is an initiative by ICC to offer players from the developing cricket nations a chance to play with the more experienced players and gain high-quality cricket experience.
This initiative by ICC has been around for 3 years now and has played a significant role in providing players with much-needed exposure, full of learning and happy memories.
The 2019 tour of England was the third iteration of the Women’s Global Development Squad, and the side, featuring players from seven countries, was led by Pakistan’s Javeria Khan. Here’s what Javeria Khan had to say about the experience the players had.
“Pakistan women’s cricket was once where women’s cricket in developing countries is now. So I understand the importance of giving exposure to empower players and I’m glad that I’m part of the process.”
Charlotte Edwards, former England cricketer and now a director of women’s cricket at Southern Vipers backed the idea of ICC’s Women’s Global Development Squad. She said:
“This is an example of where the game was and where it is now. These girls get an opportunity to play in England, play against the Southern Vipers. This couldn’t have happened even five years ago, so the opportunities now are amazing. That makes me prouder than anything, really.”
Promising Scotland seam bowler Hannah Rainey, who picked up eight wickets from six games on the 2019 tour at 13.37, said that the experience of rubbing shoulders against some of the game’s legends will hold WGDS players in good stead should their teams make it to a World Cup.
“It’s quite a challenge to bowl to the likes of Suzie Bates and Stafanie Taylor,” she said. “It’s an incredible opportunity and it’s a good challenge, and something we need to rise to. If we get the opportunity to be at a World Cup, we need to know what it’s like and we need to know that we can do it.”
This news was first featured on ICC.
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