Snehal Pradhan: The 2025 U19 Women’s T20 World Cup Will Propel Women’s Cricket Forward

New Delhi, Jan 2 (NationPress) Snehal Pradhan, the manager for women’s cricket at the International Cricket Council (ICC), is optimistic that the upcoming 2025 U19 Women’s T20 World Cup will serve as a crucial impetus for enhanced growth in women’s cricket across the globe. The tournament, featuring 16 teams, is scheduled from January 18 to February 2 in Malaysia, with India entering the competition as the defending champions after their victory in the inaugural edition held in 2023 in South Africa.

“The previous tournament was an incredible success. It represented a firm commitment to equity between the men's and women's tournaments, but it was also a leap of faith. Countries were still evolving in terms of their women's and junior pathways, making it a prime opportunity to observe the efforts invested by these nations in recent years,” she stated.

“The inclusion of 16 teams was a fantastic foundation, and it will undoubtedly foster further advancement in these countries. The goal was centered around opportunity and quality. Establishing this Under-19 tournament ensured parity between the men's and women's events,” she emphasized. “We now have a men’s and women’s 50-over World Cup, a men’s and women’s T20 World Cup, and a men’s and women’s Under-19 World Cup as well. This equality is a significant statement.”

“Moreover, the focus was on opportunity, as the intention was for this tournament to instigate change within member countries. It would enhance the junior pathways in these nations, and that’s precisely what we witnessed,” added Snehal in a statement released by the ICC.

The tournament was originally set to take place in January 2021 in Bangladesh, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was postponed to 2023, with South Africa becoming the new host. This allowed the country to host two significant women’s events back-to-back, culminating in the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup in February.

“It was fortuitous that South Africa was given the chance to host two consecutive global women’s tournaments. This created momentum with the Under-19 World Cup, enhancing awareness of women’s cricket in the nation, which was further leveraged by the subsequent Women’s T20 World Cup, culminating in a packed crowd at Newlands, a venue that had never previously hosted ticketed women’s cricket events,” she stated.

“Everything fell into place remarkably well, even though it materialized much later and in a different location than initially intended. I must commend those who paved the way at the ICC. The Under-19 tournament has been discussed for years, and many individuals, particularly our events team and the board, who envisioned committing to this age-level tournament, deserve recognition,” remarked Snehal, who represented India in six ODIs and four T20Is.

The 2023 U19 World Cup provided explosive opener Shafali Verma with her first experience as captain, leading India to its first world title in women’s cricket alongside wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh. The tournament also gave many their first glimpse of Georgia Plimmer from New Zealand, who played a crucial role in her senior team’s triumph at the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup in Dubai.

“The positioning of the tournament among both men’s and women’s categories is crucial for future stars, as it allows numerous players to establish their names at the Under-19 level before progressing to high-level international senior cricket. This tournament offered a platform for several players already recognized in international cricket to elevate their game as senior team members,” she mentioned.

“For someone like Shafali Verma, she gained invaluable captaincy experience, which she might not have encountered at the senior level. Leading India to its first ICC trophy in women’s cricket is a remarkable story. It’s vital for the tournament to both produce new stars and incorporate existing talent,” she concluded.

“It’s a compelling narrative and a strong endorsement of the tournament's significance in the development pathway. It’s fair to say that without her international exposure, Georgia Plimmer might not have ascended to the senior team as swiftly,” she added.

“The international exposure they receive and the experience of participating in a global event enable them to adapt more rapidly to the senior side. Players like her, Milly Illingworth, who had a standout WBBL season, and Theertha Satish from the UAE, who also excelled in the tournament, are now making significant impacts in their senior squads.”

“Observing these players transition into international cricket is immensely gratifying and exciting. Georgia Plimmer was making her mark in a World Cup final just a couple of years after participating in the inaugural tournament,” Snehal concluded.