Lahore, Pakistan women’s cricket team captain Nida Dar and former international cricketer Sukhan Faiz were among the 13 participants in the recently concluded Female Umpires induction course at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. This initiative marks a significant step towards enhancing the role of women in cricket officiating.

According to Pakistan Cricket Board, the four-day course, which began on January 13, provided the participants with basic training in the laws of the game. The course included written tests and personal interviews on the final day, led by Ahsan Raza, a member of the ICC’s Elite Panel of Umpires, and PCB’s International Umpire Asif Yaqoob.

Nida Dar expressed the importance of the course in understanding the game’s laws and her desire to inspire young girls to pursue umpiring. She highlighted the value of the experiences shared by elite panel umpires during the course.

Ahsan Raza detailed the course’s content, which covered playing conditions, laws, and practical aspects of modern umpiring. The course included interactive practical sessions on the ground and the use of video clips to enhance the participants’ understanding of umpiring.

The list of participants included Ammara Khan, Ayesha Farooq, Ayesha Shakoor, Fakhira Kazmi, Isma, Quratulain, Sania Ashraf, Shumaila Naz, Sumaira Sajid, Zakia Gul, and Zubaida Sattar, in addition to Nida Dar and Sukhan Faiz.

This course represents a noteworthy effort by the PCB to promote female participation in cricket officiating and marks a significant advancement in the sport’s inclusivity in Pakistan.