LAHORE: Pakistan veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik has extended his completed support to Women’s League exhibition matches, calling it ‘an excellent opportunity to create a level playing field and promote gender equality in sports.
For the first time in the country, three women’s exhibition matches will be played between Bismah Maroof-led Amazaons and Nida Dar-led Super Women, commencing on the occasion of International Women’s Day on March 8. The second and third matches will take place on March 10 and 11 respectively.
Karachi Kings’ star Shoaib believes the matches will give a ‘much-needed platform to showcase the immense talent and potential of women cricketers.’
“I am thrilled to see the inclusion of women’s league exhibition matches in the PSL 8,” said Shoaib talking to PCB Digital.
“It will provide a much-needed platform to showcase the immense talent and potential of women cricketers. This is an excellent opportunity to create a level playing field and encourage gender equality in sports.”
He added, “by promoting women’s cricket in Pakistan, we can inspire the next generation of athletes and help them realise their dreams. I fully support this initiative and hope to see the women’s league grow from strength to strength in the years to come.”
The women’s matches will start at 2pm and will be followed by the PSL fixtures at 7pm. All three exhibition matches will be staged at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.
A total of 10 leading foreign players from seven countries will represent the two teams during the women’s exhibition games – billed as the soft launch of the Pakistan Women’s League, tentatively planned for September.
Ireland’s Laura Delany, England’s trio of Lauren Winfield-Hill, Maia Bouchier and Tammy Beaumont, and Australia’s Tess Flintoff are part of Amazons.
Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu, Danni Wyatt of England, Jahanara Alam of Bangladesh, South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt and Lea Tahuhu of New Zealand represents Super Women.
Squads:
Amazons: Bismah Maroof (c), Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Areesha Noor, Eyman Fatima, Fatima Khan, Fatima Sana, Ghulam Fatima, Gull Feroza, Kainat Imtiaz, Laura Delany (Ireland), Lauren Winfield-Hill (England), Maia Bouchier (England), Nashra Sundhu, Sadaf Shamas, Tammy Beaumont (England), Tess Flintoff (Australia) and Umm-e-Hani.
Super Women: Nida Dar (c) Aimen Anwar, Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka), Danni Wyatt (England), Iram Javed, Jahanara Alam (Bangladesh), Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa), Lea Tahuhu (New Zealand), Muneeba Ali, Natalia Parvaiz, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz, Syeda Aroob Shah, Syeda Masooma Zahra and Tuba Hassan.
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