According to organisers, hosting the ICC Under-19 Girls and ICC Women’s T20 events in South Africa next year would help promote the sport in South Africa.
In addition, five sites in Johannesburg, which will host the following two events in January and February of next year, were unveiled. In January, Ekurhuleni and Potchefstroom will host the first U19 World Cup.
In February, the Women’s World Cup will be hosted by the Newlands Cricket Ground, Boland Park in Parla, and St. George’s Park in Gqeberha.
Cricket South Africa views hosting the two games as a chance to promote the growth of women’s cricket in the nation. These two events will be staged on the African continent for the first time.
In the first Under-19 FIFA World Cup, sixteen countries, including South Africa, will compete. It will be hosted at Willowmore Park in Benoni and JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom from January 14 to January 29.
“It’s a first for Africa, but for us, the South African cricket team, it’s not the first time we’ve had a major event, so even though we’re a little bit worried about the timing, the fact that it’s only four months away, but in those four months we will be able to host a global event worthy of South Africa showing what we can deliver,” says local organizing committee chairman Ntambi Ravele.
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which will be held in three locations around the nation, will assist in reviving the economy ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The T20 World Cup is estimated to be watched by approximately one hundred and ten million viewers from around the world, leading to direct and indirect injections of over 1.4 billion rand into various sectors of the economy, and the creation of approximately three thousand direct and indirect jobs. these are huge benefits for our economy and for cricket,” says Rihan Richards, President of Cricket South Africa.
The government provides unwavering support for the hosting of two international events. Given South Africa’s track record of hosting large international events, the two events are projected to be a tremendous success.
“CEO of Cricket South Africa, you know this rests on your shoulders, we want a successful event, so you have no excuse here. This is a declaration of the country’s readiness and another commitment to host another prestigious event that showcases women in sport,” says Deputy Sports Minister Nokawe Maphu.
The players will hope to win both competitions, which will be held for the first time on home soil.
“I think we also have a lot of schools that have girls in cricket and I know they look up to the Proteas women and I think it’s really exciting to know that it’s coming to them and that they can really take part in the setup, ” Proteas Ladies player Tumi Sekuhune.
“A home is a home, we have an amazing country, a beautiful country, I think it’s about time we do something like this in our country,” says Proteas Ladies player Tazmin Brits.
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will be played from February 10 to February 26 of next year and will include ten teams.