Photo Credit: Oman Cricket
Oman Cricket’s resolute push to elevate women’s cricket within the Sultanate reached a significant milestone as the inaugural phase of the #Cricket4Her programme concluded successfully recently.
The programme, designed to invigorate cricket among girls and women, recently culminated with a display of skill and sportsmanship in both indoor and outdoor softball cricket tournaments.
These events witnessed an overwhelming participation of over 300 women, encompassing schoolgirls and a commendable involvement of 16 teams.
Emphasising the success of the primary objectives, senior officials from Oman Cricket (OC) expressed satisfaction with the outcomes achieved by the #Cricket4Her initiative, launched in October.
The past two months showcased an enthralling series of matches across indoor and outdoor softball tournaments, serving as a testament to the commitment and talent of female cricketers.
In the outdoor event, Women’s Cricket Sohar emerged victorious, securing a gripping five-run win over Oman Tuluver.
Noteworthy performances led to Murugeswari Vijay of the Sohar team being honoured as the Player of the Final, while her teammate Bhavya Shetty was adjudged the Player of the Tournament.
The indoor tournament, concluded in October, witnessed the triumph of Wadi Kabir Women’s, showcasing an outstanding performance as they dominated Muscat Tamizh Queens in the eight-over title clash.
Jayavarsaa Sridevi of Wadi Kabir Women’s was named the Player of the Final, with her teammate Akshada Gunasekar earned the coveted title of Player of the Tournament.
The ceremony honouring these achievements was graced by OC board members Paul Sheridan, Alkesh Joshi, and Kiran Asher, who presented the awards to the deserving talents.
Looking forward, the programme’s second stage is poised to introduce women to hardball cricket, inviting team and individual registrations for similar tournaments.
OC Treasurer Alkesh Joshi expressed an optimistic outlook regarding the programme’s impact, highlighting its successful integration into various Muscat schools.
Schools such as Downehouse Muscat, Cheltenham Muscat, and The Sultan School have witnessed active participation, with over 75 girls engaging in the sport and attending weekly training sessions, envisioning a promising future for women’s cricket in Oman.
Joshi underscored the significance of #Cricket4Her as a pivotal initiative for Oman Cricket, firmly supported by the entire OC board and the cricketing community, aiming to breathe new life into women’s cricket.
Furthermore, Oman Cricket received commendation from the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the innovative approach and the significant strides made through the #Cricket4Her programme.
Duleep Mendis, OC’s Chief Development Officer, highlighted the programme’s objective to forge a comprehensive pathway for women and girls in cricket across Oman.
He said: “The dedicated tournaments are seen as instrumental in fostering a supportive environment conducive to talent development, skill enhancement, and the creation of a robust and empowered community of women cricketers.”
He added: “At the core of this initiative lie the guiding principles of coaching, competition, commitment, and community. Encouraging girls to earnestly pursue their cricketing dreams, the programme fosters a culture of dedicated training, continuous practice, and ongoing improvement.”
