2022 Commonwealth Games: Women’s T20 cricket included

Eight international teams will compete at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Women’s cricket will find representation for the first time at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England after the organisers decided on August 13 to include the T20 cricket at the quadrennial sporting event.

Initially nominated for the Birmingham Games in July, women’s cricket has been officially ratified by the Commonwealth Games Federation.

This marks the return of cricket to the Commonwealth Games for the first time since 1998, when South Africa won gold in a men’s 50-over format competition in Kuala Lumpur.

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The Birmingham Commonwealth Games run from July 27 to August 7, 2022 and will see 4,500 athletes competing at across 18 sports. In the women’s T20 cricket discipline, eight teams will compete across eight match days at the Edgbaston cricket ground.

Amy Satterthwaite, captain of the New Zealand women’s cricket team, sees the confirmation of women’s T20 cricket at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games as another important milestone for the game.

“To expose the women’s game to such a different global audience, and to be part of such a prestigious event such as the Commonwealth Games – it’s a huge boost at a time of real momentum,” she said. “Having the opportunity to play against countries we currently don’t usually compete with will be unique and only a good thing for the growth of the game.”

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Added Manu Sawhney, Chief Executive of the International Cricket Council: “This is a truly historic moment for women’s cricket and for the global cricket community, who were united in their support of this bid. Women’s cricket continues to go from strength to strength, and we are delighted and honoured the Commonwealth Games Associations voted to include Women’s T20 cricket at Birmingham 2022.

“Fast and exciting, the T20 format is the perfect fit for the Commonwealth Games and offers another chance to showcase women’s cricket on the global stage as part of our ambitious plans to accelerate the growth of the game, whilst inspiring the next generation of cricketers.  All the players who are lucky enough to compete at Birmingham 2022 will be part of a truly memorable experience.”

Andrea Nelson, Chief Executive of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2021 – to be hosted in New Zealand – aid having T20s at the 2022 CWG was a major positive for the sport.

“This is fantastic for cricket and in fact women’s sport as a whole,” she said. “It’s another chance for the public to see our top female athletes performing on the world stage. Hopefully it can build on the momentum generated by the world cup we’re hosting here in 2021.”