Photo Credit: Cricket Hong Kong
From 1st to 15th May, six teams comprising of cricketers from 35 countries will compete in the SDG FairBreak Invitational T20 2022 in Dubai, the first ever privately-funded women’s cricket event! The event is co-organized by Cricket Hong Kong, and was originally scheduled to be held in Hong Kong, but has since been moved to the Dubai International Stadium in the UAE. The list of key players taking part includes the captains of New Zealand and the West Indies, Sophie Devine and Stafanie Taylor, Marizanne Kapp, Laura Wolvaardt, Shabnim Ismail, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana and Rumana Ahmed – all of whom took part in the recently concluded Women’s World Cup! The tournament also features players from Associate nations, including 12 players from Hong Kong, who will play alongside the full member representatives in the six teams.
“Cricket Hong Kong is looking forward to the SDG FairBreak Invitational T20 to be held in Dubai from May 1st to May 15th 2022. Whilst we are disappointed we cannot hold the event in Hong Kong this year, we are grateful to the Emirates Cricket Board for agreeing to provide a venue for CHK to host the event in Dubai. It promises to be a groundbreaking event,” said Tony Melloy, Chairman of Cricket Hong Kong, “Cricket Hong Kong look forward to the event returning home to Hong Kong in 2023.”
Shaun Martyn, founder of FairBreak Global, says, “The concept of the tournament came from to try and improve the financial gap between men’s and women’s cricket, as well as differences in quality of play and available opportunities for women.” Martyn added , “No other cricket tournament in the world have players from 35 Countries and this tournament potentially can becoming the biggest women’s tournament in the world outside of the World Cup”
The event was moved to Dubai due to the prevailing COVID-19 Restrictions in Hong Kong, which made inviting in players from 35 countries a logistically difficult task. Ravi Nagdev, General Manager of Cricket Hong Kong added, “The tournament is unique and different, and truly embodies inclusivity which is what Cricket Hong Kong is all about. We are incredible grateful to Emirates Cricket Board for hosting a FairBreak – Cricket Hong Kong organized event, but we definitely want to bring the event back into Hong Kong in 2023 and add the unique Hong Kong Flair to the event.
Mubashshir Usmani, General Secretary Emirates Cricket said; “Emirates Cricket is delighted to host the 2022 edition of the FairBreak International and we look forward to welcoming all players, teams, support staff and stakeholders to the UAE.” “We are delighted Hong Kong Cricket and FairBreak Global recognised UAE’s strong cricket-administration-pedigree and the world-class facilities the Emirates has on offer, which continually supports grass-roots, Associate and International development programs and matches, and, we are extremely confident these talented women will benefit from playing on one of the best surfaces in the Cricketing-world – the Dubai International Stadium.”
RV Venkatesh, Tournament Director and managing director of Gencor, a leading health care and pharma company and lead sponsor of the SDG FairBreak Invitational T20 feels, there is a need of a tournament like this in women’s cricket. “The Gap between top level countries and association countries is not too far away, we have seen the performances of Thailand Women’s team on the World Stage, with more associate players getting opportunities to play against top stars this will not only help improve cricket in their respective nations but also open up a whole new untapped market for the game of cricket in the future.
For More information of the SDG FairBreak Invitational T20 visit www.FairBreak.net or contact Tommy Wong at Cricket Hong Kong (tommy.wong@hkcricket.org)
