New cricket official aims to boost women
(CNS Local Life): Cayman Cricket has appointed the Cayman Islands’ first senior development officer for women and girls. Sania Khan, a former member of the Pakistan international women’s team, is tasked with increasing the participation of women and girls in the game. With this appointment, girls will participate in the Cayman Islands Primary Schools Carnival tournament for the first time in its history.
Her arrival will also see the development of both a new women’s league and a mother and daughter (MAD) cricket programme in Cayman, stated a Cayman Cricket press release.
“I am thrilled to be here, helping to empower the next generation of women and girls to play cricket,” Khan said of her appointment. “Cricket has many benefits, not just in terms of lifestyle, fitness and skills development, but also in terms of the wider social and community benefits participation can bring.
“I have seen first-hand the powerful effect cricket can have on communities and on women and girls around the world, and I look forward to being an ambassador for women’s cricket in the Cayman Islands.”
Hector Robinson, president of Cayman Cricket, said, “The whole cricket community is very excited about Sania’s appointment, and we are delighted to welcome someone of her calibre and experience to the Cayman Cricket team.
“In addition to Sania’s role with women and girls, she will also be central to our efforts to ramp up the Cayman Islands’ youth cricket development programme, which is already underway in primary and secondary schools across the islands. We are confident that Sania’s experience, at the top level of cricket, will prove a great addition to the team of five cricket development coaches we now have working in this area.”
MAD will be one of the first programmes that Khan will be implementing, part of an International Cricket Council (ICC) initiative aimed at introducing women and girls to the game. The programme “offers fun, basic skills and fitness, as well as a platform for social interaction within a family and community atmosphere”, the press release said.
The programme consists of six sessions:
1: introductory activities including knowledge sharing about the game, highlighting women players, Q&As
2–4: basic skills training including throwing, catching, bowling, batting and fielding
5 & 6: mini tournaments and adopting a team in the WWT20
The free sessions will take place at Kings Sports Centre, on Thursday evenings from 16 May to 20 June. Participants will receive a MAD T-shirt.
Those interested in registering for the MAD programme should call or WhatsApp 321-9883 or email sania@caymancricket.ky
Can’t wait sounds exciting!