Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has given a green signal for a franchise league tournament for women cricketers, head of women’s wing Tania Malik announced on Wednesday.
PCB chairman Ramiz Raja has also approved the idea. It was supposed to begin this year but due to World Cup, there is no window left for them so they postponed it for next year. If it happens, Pakistan will be the first Asian country to host a franchise-based league for women players.
Men’s Pakistan Super League was originally launched in 2016 with initially 5 teams. Women’s tournament is likely to follow the same trend in their inaugural season.
In a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Tania Malik also hailed Pakistan’s women’s team’s performance in the two practice matches against New Zealand and Bangladesh. She said that the team combination is looking good and she expects them to qualify for the last four.
Pakistan beat New Zealand and Bangladesh in the warm-up games of the World Cup
“Our team combination is good, and hopefully, the team can progress in the final four,” Tania said.
She lauded Southern Punjab Cricket Association for taking the lead in promoting women’s cricket. PCB also will organize a T20 match between Southern Punjab and Sindh on March 4 as a part of celebrations of Women’s day.
“Since taking office, women’s cricket has been facing difficulties. Efforts are being made to take steps for the promotion of women’s cricket and women to come forward in every field,” she added.
Pakistan will start its World Cup campaign against arch-rivals India on March 6 at Mount Maunganui. Pakistan could never beat them in their ODI history as India got better of them on all 10 occasions.
In the entire Women’s World Cup history, they won just two games which were against Sri Lanka and West Indies in the 2009 edition. In the 2017 World Cup, they finished last in the table with 7 losses.
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