Urooj Mumtaz hints at PSL’s women edition in the near future

KARACHI: Pakistan women cricket team chief selector Urooj Mumtaz has hinted towards a women edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in the near future.

Speaking to Geo.tv in Karachi, Mumtaz said that before heading towards women PSL, Pakistan is working on improving cricket structure and quality of cricket at home to make it attractive for other players.

“We are planning towards a women edition of PSL. We are improving our structure and quality of cricket and hopefully in near future there will be something happening on the PSL women side,” she said.

The Pakistan Cricket Board introduced PSL in 2016 and since then the league has produced and highlighted and brought forward the best talent from Pakistan cricket.

Mumtaz, also a former captain of Pakistan women team, expressed her delight at Nida Dar’s stint with Sydney Thunders in Women Big Bash League.

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She said that it is a wonderful opportunity, not only for Dar but also for Pakistan women cricket.

“It is very important for Pakistan cricket to have a girl from Pakistan to play in WBBL. Australia’s style of cricket is way ahead of everyone else, their mindset, their game approach, their thinking, all of that is very important for us to learn and adopt in our system,” she said.

“Nida’s performance and attitude in Big Bash League will be a path way for other girls as well,” Mumtaz added.

The chief selector of women team highlighted that Dar’s presence in Australia ahead of the Women’s World Cup will also help her prepare for the next tournament which will be played in Australia as well.

“We can’t mimic Australian conditions here, so it is very important for Nida to be in Australia ahead of the World T20Is there, it will be a very good preparation, to know how the conditions are there and how the wickets are there,” she said.

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Earlier, while announcing the women’s squad for the home series against Bangladesh, Mumtaz said the PCB was trying to make central contract something players should work hard to earn.

“There were hardly 30 players and of them 21 were contracted that means more than 60 per cent were contracted, now we have 10 players so that it becomes something very special and to be earned, simultaneously we have also introduced match fees for the players in domestic cricket to provide them equal incentives,” she added.