Pakistan to host women's cricket Asia Cup by AFP

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Event:

Women's Asia Cup 2005/06

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DateLine: 22nd December 2005

 

Pakistan will host the second edition of the women's Asia Cup amid growing female interest in cricket, South Asia's most popular sport, said a top official on Thursday.

 

"Pakistan has the honour of hosting the second Asia Cup from December 28 to January 4," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) women's section secretary Shamsa Hashmi told AFP.

 

Pakistani women cricketers follow a strict Islamic dress code, wearing baggy trousers and long shirts. Only family members and women are allowed to watch the matches.

 

"We don't allow male spectators, but families can come and watch the matches," said Shamsa, also the captain of the Pakistan team. "When we hosted India it was great to see families coming and encouraging us."

 

The first edition of the Asia Cup was hosted by Sri Lanka in 2003, and the event was won by India.

 

Pakistan's arch-rivals India along with Sri Lanka would play on a double league basis, but Bangladesh would not take part as it was still in the development phase of women's cricket, said Shamsa.

 

India is the top Asian nation in women's cricket, having finished as runners-up to Australia in the women's World Cup held in South Africa early this year. Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh failed to qualify for the women's World Cup.

 

Cricket has been drawing a growing female fan base in India, while across the border the women's sport got a shot in the arm earlier this year when it was placed under the supervision of the PCB.

 

Pakistan hosted its inaugural national cricket championship for women in March and then invited the Indian Under-21 team for a first-ever women's cricket series between the rivals in October, an event which India won.

 

The conservative society does not encourage women to play on open fields, but President Pervez Musharraf's government has supported female sports, paving the way for the first women's football championship in September this year.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)