Lahore, The National Women’s T20 Tournament 2024, featuring six regional teams from across Pakistan, is set to commence on January 15 in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The 17-day tournament will bring together teams from Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, and Rawalpindi, battling it out in a double round-robin format. The top two teams will advance to the final on January 31, with the venue yet to be announced.
According to Pakistan Cricket Board, the tournament promises intense competition with each team playing ten matches. The games will take place at Rawalpindi’s Ayub Park Ground and Islamabad’s Diamond Cricket Ground and Shoaib Akhtar Stadium. Fans can catch live action from the Shoaib Akhtar Stadium on PCB’s YouTube channel.
The tournament serves as an excellent platform for players to showcase their skills and earn a spot in the national team, especially ahead of a busy international year for Pakistan Women. They are scheduled to participate in at least eight T20Is, including series against West Indies and England, along with the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup and ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
The PCB has also announced enticing incentives for the tournament. The winning team will be awarded PKR one million, and the runners-up will receive PKR 0.5 million. Additionally, the player of the tournament will receive PKR50,000, and the player of the match in each game will get PKR20,000. The best batter, bowler, and wicket-keeper will each be rewarded with PKR 25,000.
The PCB’s national women’s selection committee, led by former Test cricketer Saleem Jaffar, has finalized the six squads, each consisting of 16 players. The teams and their management have been announced, showcasing a mix of experienced and emerging talent.
This tournament is seen as a significant step towards the development of women’s cricket in Pakistan, providing a competitive platform for female cricketers to hone their skills and gain valuable match experience. The PCB’s commitment to women’s cricket is evident in the organization of this event, and it is expected to contribute significantly to the growth of the sport in the country.
Lahore, Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is set to host a four-day induction course for female umpires, beginning on Saturday, January 13. This initiative is part of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) efforts to encourage female participation in cricket umpiring.
According to Pakistan Cricket Board, the course attracted applicants in December 2023, with a minimum education requirement of intermediate level, except for international players. The age criteria for applicants was set between 28 to 40 years. The course will be led by Ahsan Raza, a member of the ICC’s Elite panel of Umpires, and PCB’s International Umpire Asif Yaqoob.
The training will include a three-day basic course, followed by a final day of assessments, including a written test, a fitness test, and interviews. Successful candidates from this course will be added to the PCB Female Panel of Umpires for the upcoming domestic cricket season. This will enable them to officiate at Region/District and Club level matches, marking a significant step towards inclusivity and gender diversity in cricket umpiring within Pakistan.