Emirates Cricket Board to host first ever UAE International Women’s tournament

Emirates Cricket Board, ECB, announced Monday the first ever nine-day UAE International Women’s T20 tournament.

Seven countries, including the host UAE, have confirmed their participation in this inaugural event with the tournament’s first pool games being played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on December 14th.

Pool games will then alternate between Sharjah Cricket Stadium and the recently opened Ajman Cricket Council’s Eden Ground through to the final, to be played on 19th December at the Sharjah Cricket Club.

According to the ECB, the UAE has a strong record of hosting international cricket, in particular Men’s ODI’s and the T20’s, and the sport is now seeing a great drive and reach into the women’s game. “The tournament is integral in Emirates Cricket Board’s efforts to develop and support women’s cricket both in the UAE and for neighbouring unions, which dovetails into the International Cricket Council’s development programme,” it says.

“This tournament will help improve cricketing standards among women in the UAE, the GCC and our visiting countries,” commented Zayed Abbas, Executive Member Emirates Cricket Board.

Humairy Tasneem, UAE Women’s T20 Captain, said, “We are grateful to ECB to provide such a wonderful opportunity to play against better sides, and through such tournaments our aim is to be competitive enough to qualify for the next Women’s T20 Cup. We look forward to welcoming the countries participating in this inaugural event to the UAE.”

Group A includes Kenya, Qatar, Malaysia and the UAE, and Group B includes Kuwait, Oman and Uganda.

Emirates Cricket recently announced the team that will represent the UAE at the tournament as: Humairy Tasneem (C), Natasha Micheal (VC), Chaya Mughal, Esha Oza, Fatima Ahsan, Ashai Senevirathne, Knavish Kumari, Kyna Vedhasinghe, Neva Sharma, Nisha Ali, Priyanjali Niagara, Samiya Salim, Shaman Wanniarachchi and Subha Srinivasan.