LAHORE: Lodhran Pilot Project (LPP), with the support of Azm e Pakistan and its partners including Women Cricket, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Southern Punjab Cricket Association (SPCA) and Sindh Cricket Association (SCA) organized first ever regional women’s cricket T20 Match of young women of Southern Punjab Cricket Association and Sindh Cricket Association in Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore to mark International Women’s Day 2022. The Southern Punjab team won the match by 27 runs. It scores 103 runs, but the Sindh team was all out on 76 runs.
Chief Guest of the opening and closing ceremony of the match was Mr. William K. Makaneole U.S. Counsel General Lahore. Ombudsman Punjab, Ms. Nabeela Hakim, Mr. Taimur Malik, Lawyer and Board Member of Southern Punjab Cricket Association, Mr. Ali Raza, Chief of Party, Azm e Pakistan, Ms. Marina Iqbal, former International Cricketer, Asmavia Iqbal, National Chief Selector Women Cricket Pakistan Cricket Board, Nadeem Khan, former Pakistani Cricketer and now an office bearer of Pakistan Cricket Board, Kainaat Raza, Focal Person Child Protection Bureau and Women Welfare office Bahawalpur, Bushra Aitzaz watched the match.
former Chairperson Pakistan Cricket Board Women Wing, and parliamentarians from Sindh and Punjab including Ms. Mangla Sharma, Ms. Firdaus Rahna, Ms. Sabeen Gul, students from local school and colleges with their faculty and media persons also watched the match in Gaddafi Stadium.
Opening ceremony began with national anthem of Pakistan and the introduction of the teams. US counsel General tossed and Sindh Cricket Association chose to bat after winning the toss. Mr. Willian Makaneole, US Counsel General inaugurated the match formally after batting and bowling with Ms. Asmavia Iqbal, former national Cricketer.
“This is a historic moment for women cricket in Pakistan that young women from grassroots level got an opportunity to play in an international stadium. This is not only a milestone to promote women cricket in Pakistan and nurture the young talent but will motivate more young women to chase their passion for cricket.” said Dr. Muhammad Abdul Saboor, CEO, Southern Punjab Cricket Association.
He further said that “this will bring about gender equality in women cricket at grassroots level in Pakistan. It is a conscious effort of SPCA in collaboration with Pakistan Cricket Board to improve women sports opportunities. The opportunities boys enjoy, similar opportunities were needed for the girls and to make cricket stadiums more inclusive.”
Ms. Tania Malick, Chairperson Women Cricket Pakistan Cricket Board said that “PCB is committed to maintain a key focus on the equal access and opportunities on the playing field and invest in our women to develop the cricketers across the nation. This collaboration of PCB with regional cricket associations and nongovernment partners such as Lodhran Pilot Project is an exciting platform to showcase young women’s talent at highest level.”
The T20 women’s regional cricket match was live streamed through Geo Super television and official social media of all the partners to encourage young women to experience a full-fledged sporting activity. Its Hashtag #BreakTheBias was trended on Twitter among top trends on Twitter in Pakistan.
Ms Nabila Khan Ombudsperson Punjab, members’ of provincial assembly Punjab, students of local schools and colleges of Lahore, senior officials of regional cricket associations and Pakistan cricket board joined in Gaddafi stadium to encourage both teams of Sindh Cricket Association and Southern Punjab Cricket Association.
