Snehal Pradhan: 2025 U19 Women’s T20 World Cup to Propel Women's Cricket Forward

New Delhi, Jan 2 (NationPress) Snehal Pradhan, the manager of women’s cricket at the International Cricket Council (ICC), expresses her belief that the forthcoming 2025 U19 Women’s T20 World Cup will serve as a significant catalyst for further development in women’s cricket across the globe.

The 16-team tournament is scheduled to take place from January 18 to February 2 in Malaysia, with India competing as the defending champions after clinching the inaugural title in 2023 in South Africa.

"The event was incredibly successful. It was a strong commitment to gender equity between the men's and women's competitions, as well as a bold step forward. Many nations were still evolving in terms of their women's and junior development pathways, making this an opportunity to witness the progress made by these countries over recent years.

"Starting with 16 teams was an excellent initiative, and it will undoubtedly propel further advancements in those nations. The goal focused on creating opportunities and enhancing quality. Having this Under-19 tournament ensured parity between the men’s and women’s events.

"We have men's and women's 50-over World Cups, men's and women's T20 World Cups, as well as men’s and women’s Under-19 World Cups. The existence of this parity is a significant statement.

"Another key aspect was the opportunity it provides, as the intent was for this tournament to instigate changes within member countries. It would strengthen the junior pathways in those nations, and that’s precisely what we observed," stated Snehal in an ICC announcement.

The tournament was initially slated for January 2021 in Bangladesh, but the Covid-19 pandemic necessitated its rescheduling to 2023, with South Africa becoming the new host. Consequently, the nation hosted two women's events back-to-back, culminating in the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup in February.

"It was fortuitous that South Africa was able to host two consecutive global women’s events. This unique opportunity helped generate excitement around women’s cricket, which was then leveraged during the Women’s T20 World Cup, culminating in a sell-out crowd at Newlands, a venue that had never previously held ticketed women's cricket matches.

"Everything aligned beautifully, even though the event materialized later and in a different location than initially planned. I must credit those who laid the groundwork prior to my tenure at the ICC. The Under-19 tournament has been a topic of discussion for several years, and numerous individuals, particularly our events team and board, who envisioned and committed to this tournament at this level, deserve recognition," added Snehal, who has played six ODIs and four T20Is for India.

The 2023 U19 World Cup allowed explosive opener Shafali Verma to experience her first opportunity at leading India to its inaugural world title in women’s cricket, alongside wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh. It also introduced many fans to Georgia Plimmer of New Zealand, who played a crucial role in the senior team’s success at the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup in Dubai.

“The tournament's positioning within the men’s and women’s categories is vital for cultivating future stars, as it enables numerous players to establish their names at the Under-19 level before advancing to high-stakes international competitions. This tournament offered a platform for several players, who had already gained recognition in international cricket, to elevate their performance as senior team members.

“For someone like Shafali Verma, she had the opportunity to captain the team and gain valuable leadership experience, which she might not have had at the senior level. Leading India to the first ICC trophy in the women’s division was the cherry on top. It’s significant for the tournament to produce emerging talent while also featuring established stars.

"This narrative is a wonderful testament to the importance of this tournament in the development pathway. It’s reasonable to say that Georgia Plimmer may not have been fast-tracked into the senior team as swiftly had she not had this opportunity on the international stage.

"The international exposure they receive, along with the experience of participating in a global event, enables them to acclimate more quickly to senior competition. They have been in this environment before, and players like her, Milly Illingworth, who had an outstanding WBBL season, and Theertha Satish from the UAE, who also excelled during the tournament, are making significant impacts in the senior squad.

"Witnessing these players transition to international cricket is immensely gratifying; it’s thrilling to observe. Georgia Plimmer was making her mark in a World Cup final just a couple of years after participating in the inaugural tournament," concluded Snehal.