More than 1,000 women take part in trials across the country

Trials in Sindh will take place from May 18 to May 28, while Karachi trials will take place on May 27 and 28

By Web Desk
May 15, 2022
— PCB

LAHORE: As part of the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) ongoing efforts to make the game more gender-inclusive, 1,118 young girls and women participated in trials held in five of the six Cricket Associations.

Central Punjab had the highest attendance, with 287 players participating in tryouts. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa came in second with 250 participants.

The trials attracted 218 teens and women, which is a significant milestone for the women's game in Balochistan. 223 and 140 players took part in tryouts in Southern and Northern Punjab, respectively.

These CAs' selection panels, which included highly competent coaches and former Test and first-class cricketers, chose players from the U19, emerging (years 19-24), and senior (ages 25-28) age groups.

125, 139, and 40 players were selected in the U19, emerging, and senior categories in Balochistan, Central Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Northern (Muzaffarabad remaining), and Southern Punjab.

Head of Women's Cricket Tania Mallick: "The turnout in these trials is overwhelming. It underscores the appetite for women’s cricket in the country and has played a crucial role in the identification of talent in different parts. I want to thank parents around the country for facilitating their daughters to appear in these trials and this is a good omen for women’s cricket. The educational institutions have also played a major role in making these trials a success by bringing their students to venues.

"I want to congratulate and thank the CAs who have played a robust role in the smooth execution of trials. These trials are the first step in the long journey for the development and promotion of women’s cricket in the country, and it cannot be done without the support of CAs and we will continue to provide all the necessary support for it."

The selected players have ample opportunities with a bumper women's cricket season ahead. The inaugural U19 World Cup next year provides teenage cricketers opportunities to make a name for themselves on a global stage, while players selected in other categories can push for the national selection by standing out in domestic T20 and One-Day tournaments as well as in a franchise tournament.

Pakistan national women's team have a busy 2022-23 season which kicks off with the T20I series against Sri Lanka later this month. They feature in three ICC Women’s Championship series, two of which will be played in Pakistan, Commonwealth Games, ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup, and ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

The trials are a joint effort of the PCB and CAs to strengthen the women player talent pool by making the game more accessible and promoting the sport amongst the female population of the country.

The trials in Muzaffarabad will take place on May 17, while the trials in Sindh will take place from May 18 to May 28. The Karachi trials will take place on May 27 and 28.

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