Anjani Gaja’s role at the recent ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the United Arab Emirates was a milestone, both professionally and personally.
“Being part of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 as the Assistant Tournament Director was a thrilling experience! The role was both challenging and rewarding. It required ensuring everything ran smoothly.”
UAE Women’s Cricket Administrator, Anjani Gaja
“It was about being part of a pivotal moment for women’s cricket in UAE, and I am deeply proud to be part of a historic tournament that showcased the best of women’s cricket on a global stage. The atmosphere was electric, with enthusiastic fans cheering on, bringing a unique energy that made the tournament unforgettable.”
Gaja’s commitment to women’s cricket has not gone unnoticed. She recently found herself featured in an ICC digital piece, putting the spotlight on her role in the Women’s T20 World Cup, an honour she treasures.
“The ICC feature was such an honour, and it was humbling to see my work being recognised on such a prominent platform,” she says. “It’s not every day you get featured by the ICC, and it was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on my work with the Emirates Cricket Board, and the broader goal of advancing women’s cricket.”
For Gaja, the feature wasn’t solely about personal recognition. “To me, the feature wasn’t just about me—it was about the collective effort to elevate women in sport, and I’m grateful that I could contribute to that narrative.”
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup’s legacy is one she hopes will inspire countless young girls. “The legacy is one of visibility and opportunity,” she explains.
“For the first time, we saw elite women’s cricketers take centre stage in the UAE and showed what’s possible for women in sport. The tournament demonstrated that women’s cricket is just as capable of drawing crowds, generating excitement, and competing at the highest level.”
Her vision is clear: That this legacy will inspire more young girls in the UAE to pick up a bat, with local clubs and schools increasingly prioritising female participation.
Beyond the memorable tournament, Gaja’s journey into the sports world stems from her lifelong passion for cricket. “It all started with my love for sport and passion for cricket, which got me playing the sport professionally in my early years,” she recalls.
After obtaining a degree in sports management, she gained experience working on a variety of sports events and campaigns. “As I gained more experience, I was also fortunate enough to work with incredible mentors who guided me in navigating the industry,” Gaja adds.
Her trajectory has been shaped by a combination of passion, dedication, and the invaluable support of mentors who have helped her find her niche in sports administration.
Gaja’s current role at the Emirates Cricket Board is multi-faceted and ambitious. “At the Emirates Cricket Board, I manage the women’s national team’s FTPs, collaborating with the coaching staff, cricket boards, and councils,” she explains.
Her responsibilities also encompass overseeing player participation and creating more opportunities for women to play high-quality cricket.
“We’re focused on breaking down barriers, whether it’s in terms of access to resources, visibility, or media coverage. Through our development programs, we’re committed to nurturing talent and creating an environment where women’s cricket can thrive on the global stage.”
Despite her numerous responsibilities, Gaja maintains a grounded perspective on personal well-being. “With so much cricket scheduled throughout the year, taking breaks after major tournaments to recharge is essential to avoid burnout,” she notes, mentioning that practices like yoga and weekend swims help her maintain balance.
“As the year-end approaches, I make it a point to reflect on the achievements of the past months, which helps me stay motivated and focused on my long-term goals.”
Her vision for the future of UAE women’s cricket is ambitious and forward-looking. “The UAE women’s team has made tremendous progress, especially over the past couple of years. We have a young but experienced lot with most of the players beautifully balancing their education with prioritising cricket,” she says.
Her main focus is ensuring that the team has the right support, development opportunities, and competitive exposure to excel on the global stage.
“My primary goal for 2025 for the UAE Women’s team is to plan opportunities to play against quality opponents enabling them to compete at crucial competitions. Barging into the ODI space is also my and our team’s top priority for 2025.”
Gaja’s vision extends beyond the field, advocating for more storytelling, media coverage, and commercial partnerships to support women’s sports globally. “Increasing media coverage and storytelling that highlights the achievements and challenges of women athletes not only around major events but also throughout the year is crucial to building a connection with the audience,” she says.
She also believes in a strong grassroots foundation, and hopes to inspire young girls to dream big.
Main Photo caption: Anjani Gaja has an ambitious plan to boost women’s cricket in the United Arab Emirates. After her role as assistant tournament director at the recent ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE, this UAE cricket administrator has every reason to feel confident. Photo: Supplied
Photo 2 caption: Gaja says that her main focus is ensuring that the UAE women’s cricket team has the right support, development opportunities, and competitive exposure to excel on the global stage. Photo: Supplied
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