Women’s Cricket to be a part of Commonwealth Games for the first time ever

Women’s Cricket to be a part of Commonwealth Games for the first time ever

Women's cricket at Commonwealth Games 2022

2022 Birmingham CWG logo

Womens Cricket is set to be a part of the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. The Womens T20 competition will make it’s debut at the coveted tournament. The ICC and the Commonwealth Games Federation unveiled the qualification process on Wednesday.

Six highest placed teams in the ICC ranking as on April 1 next year along with hosts, England, will get direct qualification to the Games. “Besides England, six other highest ranked teams in ICC Women’s T20I Rankings as of April 1 next year will also qualify directly for the eight-team tournament, which will be held in Edgbaston,” the ICC said in a statement.

The remaining one place will be allocated to the winner of the Commonwealth Games Qualifiers. The format and details will be announced in due course. The deadline of the Qualifier is January 31, 2021.

It will only be the second time cricket will feature in the Games. Mens cricket was a part of the Kuala Lumpur 1998 Games.

Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur thrilled after inclusion of Womens cricket in Commonwealth Games

Harmanpreet Kaur
Harmanpreet Kaur

“We are absolutely delighted to have women”s T20 cricket debut at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games,” Commonwealth Games Federation president, Dame Louise Martin said.

“Cricket has always been one of the Commonwealth”s most popular sports and it is so special to have it back at our Games for the first time since the men”s competition at Kuala Lumpur … Now is the turn of the women and I can”t wait to see the next generation of stars take centre stage,” Martin added.

Athletes from the Caribbean will be representing their countries and not the West Indies (as they are affiliated with the ICC). The winner of a designated qualifying tournament will decide which country gets to compete if the West Indies get a slot, the release said.

“Cricket at the Commonwealth Games is a fantastic opportunity for us to continue to grow the women”s game globally,” ICC chief executive Manu Sawhney said.

He also thanked the Commonwealth Games Federation. “We are committed to accelerating this growth and maintaining the momentum we have created over the past few years … I thank the Commonwealth Games Federation for their support and for making this possible,” he said.

“We share with them the vision of greater equality, fairness and opportunity in sport and I am sure Birmingham 2022 will go a long way towards us achieving our common objectives,” Sawhney added.

The Indian womens cricket team is currently placed third in the ICC rankings behind England. Indian captain, Harmanpreet Kaur is thrilled at the prospect. “The inclusion of cricket at the Commonwealth Games is huge for all players and the game in general,” she said.

“I hope to be there at the games and wish that it is a great success with some engrossing matches and high quality of cricket,” she added.

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