Delhi posted 224-4 courtesy of a 113-run stand between Pant (88) and fellow left-hander Axar Patel, who hit 66
India’s cricket board said the participation of its top women players in The Hundred in England will give them much needed experience and exposure to elite opposition ahead of the 50-overs World Cup in New Zealand next year.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) does not allow its male players to participate in overseas franchise-based leagues, though some of the Test specialists have played county cricket in England.
The inaugural edition of the 100-ball competition, which features eight franchises with separate men’s and women’s teams, begins at the Oval on July 21 and will feature five India players including T20 captain Harmanpreet Kaur, her deputy Smriti Mandhana and explosive opener Shafali Verma.
Kaur and Mandhana have also previously played in Australia’s Big Bash League Twenty20 competition.
“The idea is for them to get exposure in England,” BCCI treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal told Reuters by telephone.
“Some of our boys have played county cricket, and that has given them a great opportunity and exposure. We want to take women cricket forward similarly.
“These experience will definitely come in handy in the World Cup next year.”
After a year without international cricket due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the India women’s team hosted South Africa for a limited-overs series in March and the calendar suddenly looks a lot busier.
The team, under skipper Mithali Raj, will play their first Test in seven years next week when they face England in Bristol, with the tour also including three one-dayers and three T20 matches.
India will play their maiden pink-ball Test in Australia later this year and there could be more action in September-October if the BCCI can organise the Women’s T20 Challenge in the UAE.
The Challenge would run alongside the remainder of the men’s Indian Premier League, which was suspended last month because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We’re trying to figure out if that can be played with the UAE leg of the IPL,” Dhumal said.
“Hopefully we’ll get a window. We’ll have to see venue availability as well.”
Delhi posted 224-4 courtesy of a 113-run stand between Pant (88) and fellow left-hander Axar Patel, who hit 66
The move is seen as part of Ukraine's efforts to reinforce its army as soldiers struggle to hold positions against Russia
The Jamaican currently holds world records in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m with times of 9.58s, 19.19s and 36.84s respectively
Total property income posted year-on-year growth of 10% to $74m, highest value ever
All official donation channels however remain open through the outlets announced by government agencies
The Starlight Park is a four-building freehold community in Meydan
The 22-time major champion admits his farewell tour hasn't been as enjoyable as he would have hoped
Eating out, poor hand hygiene and erratic weather may be among causes, say medics