LONDON: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has named South Africa as the host of the inaugural ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2023.
The 16-team tournament, which will take place in January 2023, was originally scheduled to be held in 2021 but was postponed due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
That new date was announced at Sunday’s ICC Board Meeting, with the 41-match event to take place in January next year and as a curtain-raiser ahead of the 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup that commences in South Africa on February 9.
South Africa has been confirmed as the host of the inaugural ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2023, to be staged in January 2023 as a 16-team, 41-match event ???? pic.twitter.com/xARjc9Q4Jf
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) April 10, 2022
It means South Africa will now host two ICC events in the space of two months and Cricket South Africa Chief Executive Pholetsi Moseki is already looking forward to it.
“This is fantastic news, and we acknowledge the ICC’s show of faith in South Africa, and our vision and desire to work collaboratively to host this momentous event,” Moseki said.
He added, “The U19 Women’s World Cup has been eagerly anticipated by cricket fans and following COVID-19 delays, we are delighted to finally welcome the rising stars of the future onto our shores for what will be an exciting, lesson-filled, and potentially life-changing event.”
“On the back of witnessing the fine displays at the recent World Cup, the host cities and venues will be just as excited and ready to set the world stage for the promising cricketers to perform on and be immersed in what will be a first major tournament in the young careers of most of the players,” he concluded.
Interestingly, South Africa hosted the inaugural edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2007, which India won after defeating Pakistan in the final. Now in 2023, South Africa is slated to host two major ICC events in the gap of just two months.
