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Prior to the start of the U19 Women's T20 World Cup on January 14, former South African captain Graeme Smith believes that a junior World Cup is an excellent platform for a young person to evaluate where they stand as a cricket player.
"A youth World Cup is such a great opportunity to evaluate where you stand as a cricketer with future goals. Any level of representing your country is really exciting, and I'm sure that all of the teams travelling to the Under19 Women's T20 World Cup are experiencing goosebumps."
In an official statement released by the ICC, Smith remarked, "It's fantastic to think that rivalries that will play out for years will be forged at this tournament, as well as friendships that will last a lifetime."
The development of a junior women's T20 World Cup is crucial for the international game. The global Covid-19 pandemic delayed the creation of this competition, but it will now provide aspiring female athletes the same stage as their male counterparts.
After competing in the 2000 Men's U19 World Cup, Smith, who is regarded as one of the game's greatest captains, adding that it was very exciting to see additional nations join the fold for the U19 Women's T20 World Cup.
"The diversity of the game is what keeps it alive. Anyone who is active in the sport finds it thrilling that so many nations are developing a culture around cricket because it emphasises how everyone who expresses interest in it is accepted. As long as there are opportunities for talent to flourish, it can come from anyone."
Snehal Pradhan, a former fast bowler for India's women, thinks the U19 Women's T20 World Cup is a fantastic and well-deserved chance for young female athletes. The chance for teenagers to participate in a major global event cannot be emphasised.
"They are receiving the exposure they deserve, and moving up to senior cricket will be made much easier thanks to this. That is a significant claim in and of itself, and we must applaud the ICC and the various boards throughout the globe for treating the expansion of the game with such seriousness."
A 16-team tournament for the U19 Women's T20 World Cup, according to Snehal, who is also the newly appointed ICC Women's Cricket Manager, is a positive move.
"The ICC Women's Committee deserves praise for expanding this tournament to 16 teams. To invite nations that might not often attend a World Cup requires boldness. This enables the game to flourish in regions where cricket has traditionally not been a popular sport."
"The teams that were put together in South Africa have already produced a number of touching tales. The first Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup is a true picture of the sport and its future on a worldwide scale. For the first time ever, Indonesia and Rwanda are competing in a major competition. That is a success story even before the first ball is bowled."
From January 14 to January 29, all 41 games will be held at Benoni and Potchefstroom. Snehal believes that there has never been a better time for women to play cricket. "Now, it makes financial sense to make women's sports more commercial. There is a lot of growth there. Due to the enormous popularity of this sport, women should have equal chance."