CSA reveal key developments for women’s cricket
CSA has officially launched a Professional Domestic Women’s League, while there will also be equal match fees for men and women.
This week, Cricket South Africa (CSA) officially launched the Professional Domestic Women’s League with a momentous event as leading figures of women’s cricket from across the country gathered at Freedom Park in Tshwane on Tuesday.
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The new structure comes after the immense success of the Proteas Women in the last ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 hosted in New Zealand and the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup 2023 held on home soil, where they reached the semi-finals and final, respectively. It was at the latter tournament where Proteas Women were dubbed ‘History Makers’, as the first senior national cricket team to reach the final of an ICC World Cup.
Meanwhile, CSA has also announced equal international-match fees for their men and women’s players in another significant development.
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CSA HAS TAKEN IMPORTANT STRIDES
A huge boost for female cricketers in South Africa 🙌
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 22, 2023
👉 https://t.co/xbjL8Br2x0 pic.twitter.com/ZL79pGJ5bg
Earlier this year, South Africa also hosted the inaugural ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in January 2023 where the SA U19 team narrowly missed out on a spot in the semi-finals, after an exhilarating super 6 stage.
Rooted in local essence through the best domestic talents South Africa has to offer, as well as the enhanced coaching and medical departments, the new structure is a testament to the developing endeavours in the sport set out by CSA, with the help of the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture’s (DSAC) investment of R15 million over three years.
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The CSA Professional Domestic Women’s League comprises of two main tournaments; the CSA Women’s One Day Cup and CSA Women’s T20 Challenge and seeks to revolutionise the way women’s cricket is perceived and celebrated.
The women’s structure is set to undergo significant changes. The number of permanent contracts in the ‘Top Six’ Division 1 will be raised from six to 11 players per team. Additionally, there will be an improved and permanent coaching setup consisting of a head coach and an assistant coach as well as a centralised system for physiotherapists and strength and conditioning coaches attending to each team.
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