The league was originally slated to begin in 2022, but was pushed to 2023 due to lack of a suitable window.
In an encouraging development for women’s cricket around the world, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced that they will conduct a women’s edition of the tournament from 2023 onwards. The announcement was made by Tania Malik, who is the Head of the Women’s Wing of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Her announcement was further ratified by PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja, who, interestingly, had suggested the establishment of a Women’s and U19 Pakistan Super League in the years to come. The Women’s League was initially supposed to be held in 2022, but the prevailing circumstances forced the board to push the project until 2023.
In her statement, Malik also heaped praise on the Pakistan women’s team, which is currently in New Zealand for the Women’s ODI World Cup. In the build up to the tournament, the Pakistan side won both of their warm-up encounters, against hosts New Zealand and then against Bangladesh. She also highlighted the role of the Southern Punjab Cricket Association for their efforts in promoting women’s cricket, and also announced a special match commemorating Women’s Day, to be played between Southern Punjab and Sindh.
“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,”
Malik said in a press conference in Lahore.
The introduction of a PSL-style league for women’s cricket could benefit the game in a big way. Both in Pakistan and on a global stage as well. It will give up and coming women cricketers an excellent platform to showcase their abilities as well as provide inspiration to aspiring cricketers in different parts of the world.
The Pakistan Women’s cricket side has been doing quite well in recent times, in their preparations for the 2022 Women’s World Cup. They have been playing good cricket and have also been getting the results to show for it, most recently beating host nation New Zealand and Bangladesh in the warm-up fixtures ahead of the World Cup, which begins on March 4. The Pakistan women will first take on arch-rivals India on March 6 at Mount Manganui, which promises to be a riveting encounter.
