Top women’s cricketers set to play in new international event in Hong Kong in 2022
- The inaugural Invitational Women’s Cricket T20 tournament is organised by gender equality group FairBreak Global and will feature six teams
- Players from associate members will be able to team up with top-tier stars in what may be the first international tournament in Hong Kong since 2018
Cricket Hong Kong is hoping to stage an international women’s Twenty20 tournament in January 2022 featuring the best players from top-tier nations and associate members.
Joining hands with gender equality group FairBreak Global, the inaugural Invitational Women’s Cricket T20 tournament will feature six teams, with Hong Kong possibly one of the stops in a series of competitions.
“Given that supporting and growing women’s cricket is one of our five tenets in our Cricket Hong Kong strategy, we are happy to back this event,” said Tony Melloy, chairman of the Hong Kong governing body. “It’s a good thing to bring top-qualify cricket to Hong Kong.
“The recent [men’s] T20 Premier League was very successful and well supported on online streaming and even at the Kowloon Cricket Club, which was quite full. It shows the need of the Hong Kong populace to see some quality cricket.
“We are in discussion with the ICC [International Cricket Council] for the required sanctions and then we would run it under ICC regulations. It is not 100 per cent confirmed but it is highly probable.”
FairBreak Global is an organisation that aims to create opportunities in sport, business, media, arts and education to achieve gender equality on a global scale.
The organisation said it was working with a number of sponsors to make the tournament a reality.
It will be the first privately funded tournament of its kind and will be a major step up for the development of women’s cricket.
“This is an exciting time for everyone who is part of the FairBreak movement,” said founder Shaun Martyn. “We have worked diligently with all vested parties to ensure our tournament will deliver a quality event and experience, true to our ‘Pure Sport’ ethos.
“The tournament will not only drive opportunity for all players, but also support our CSR partner, SolarBuddy, in helping end energy poverty.”
The event will also coincide with a conference on gender equality FairBreak hopes to stage in Hong Kong.
Top local players expected to be given a chance to play.
Mariko Hill, one of Hong Kong’s leading players, said: “This tournament will be a huge stepping stone for associate nation cricketers to be playing alongside some of the world’s greatest international female cricketers. What a fantastic opportunity.”
Hong Kong has been without a major international tournament since the 2018 T20 Blitz – a franchise-based competition that lasted for three editions and featured some leading men’s players.
The Hong Kong Sixes, which had gained recognition around the world, was last played in 2017.
RV Venkatesh, CEO of FairBreak lead sponsor Gencor, which makes botanical ingredients, said: “[The event] provides a platform for women from associate nations to play with full member nation players and showcase their talents to the cricketing world.
“This will help develop women’s cricket worldwide and serve as a launching pad for aspiring women’s cricketers all around the world to aim high.”
