By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Jan 6: Kuching will host 10 out of the 42 matches for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place from January 18 to 28, with the remaining matches to be held in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru.
Sarawak Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development (MYSED) Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this is the second world cup hosted in Sarawak, following the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship held in Kuching nearly 28 years ago.
“The teams that will play in the qualifying rounds in Kuching are New Zealand, South Africa, Samoa and Nigeria, followed by the finals in Kuala Lumpur,” he said when unveiling the trophy for ICC U19 Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup held at Godown Amphitheatre Kuching Waterfront here today.
He added that upon receiving the hosting offer for the World Cup in August 2024, the Sarawak government accelerated the upgrading of the Borneo Cricket Ground in Petra Jaya, with construction now 97 per cent complete.
Also present during the event were Malaysian Cricket Association patron Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Jaafar, Deputy Sarawak Secretary (Operation) Datu Hii Chang Kee, and MYSED permanent secretary Morshidi Fredrick.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the Sarawak Cricket Association has emphasised that it is aggressively pursuing cricket’s development in the State.
This effort was recently highlighted by the Sarawak women’s cricket team’s victory in the MCA Women’s T20 Interstate 2025, where they defeated Selangor by 44 runs in the finals.
“Efforts by the Sarawak Cricket Association, supported by the Sarawak State Sport Council and Sarawak Sport Corporation, are expected to further expand cricket’s reach across Sarawak’s divisions,” it said.
Best wishes are also extended to the Malaysian Team captain, Nur Dania Syuhada, a Sarawakian and the Malaysia women’s cricket team as they prepare for the World Cup.
The public is invited to attend the 10 cricket matches, which will feature the best women’s cricket teams globally.
Alongside the matches, the Nyamai @ Cricket World Cup food pavilion at the venue will showcase Sarawak’s heritage through traditional food, art, and craft stalls throughout the event’s duration.
For match information, please refer to the official website: https://www.icc-cricket.com/. – DayakDaily
