ICC World Twenty20 on the Cards

Excitement is building for International Women’s Cricket
following news that the International Cricket Council is considering holding a
Women’s World Twenty20 alongside the men’s event in 2009.

Cricket-specialist website Cricinfo reported on Wednesday that
the ICC’s finance and commercial affairs committee will meet early in 2008 to consider
the crucial decision, which could mean that the women, like the men, play two
World Cups in a year, with the 50-over version in Australia earlier that year.

An ICC spokesman told Cricinfo: "The ICC board, in its
last meeting in Dubai in October, approved the
women’s ICC World Twenty20 which will be played simultaneously with the men’s
ICC World Twenty20 in England
in 2009."

When contacted by gsport, ICC Women’s Project Officer,
Juliet Tetley confirmed the exciting developments. "The concept needs to be
approved by the Finance and Commercial Affairs Committee in January or February
next year, and following that I would hope that more information can be
released. 

"I think this would be a great opportunity to showcase the
women’s game and I am excited with the prospect of this getting off the ground,"
Tetley told gsport.