In March 2023, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) held three Women’s Exhibition matches to kick off its inaugural Women’s Franchise tournament in Pakistan. Notable personalities such as Laura Wolvaardt, Chamari Athapaththu, Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, and Lea Tahuhu participated in these matches. The teams featured in the exhibition were named Amazons and Super Women.
Several countries have established their domestic franchise leagues, including Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), England’s Women’s Hundred, India’s Women’s Premier League (WPL), and the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) in the West Indies.
The Pakistan Women’s team, headed by captain Fatima Sana, faced a challenging campaign in the recent 9th edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 held in the UAE. Competing in Group A against teams like India, Australia, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka, they ended up exiting the tournament at the league stage, securing only a single victory against Sri Lanka in their opener.
“If we are given league opportunities, we too can reach international standards.” Iram Javed discusses how a local franchise tournament could significantly aid the Pakistan women’s cricket team in becoming competitive on the world stage and elevate their overall gameplay.
The strength and style of cricket exhibited by Australia, which has earned them a reputation as a dominant side, stems largely from the success of their Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL). This tournament has proven vital in identifying local talent and expanding the player pool, preparing them for international representation.
Domestic players gain immensely from local franchise tournaments as they get the opportunity to play alongside some of the world’s best cricketers. This exchange of expertise and experience is crucial in developing young talent, also offering them a stage to showcase their abilities.
India’s journey to the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup in 2017, where they finished as runners-up after a close match against England, sparked demands for a women’s franchise league, culminating in the launch of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in 2023. Numerous players who excelled in the WPL have subsequently earned spots in the senior Indian women’s team.
“Such initiative would provide Pakistani women cricketers with valuable experience.” Iram Javed advocates for the introduction of a women’s franchise tournament in Pakistan. Recent developments in August revealed that the PCB intends to appoint mentors to enhance player development at the domestic level. The 32-year-old middle-order batter, Iram Javed, expressed her support for having a mentor accompany the team.
Image Source: Iram Javed @ Instagram
