April 26, 2024 – ICC Asia has inaugurated a vibrant celebration dedicated to cricket with the launch of Asia Cricket Week, scheduled from April 28 to May 5. This week-long festivity is set to showcase the diverse forms and enthusiastic spirit of cricket across the region through various activities aimed at promoting the game at multiple levels.
The event-packed week will feature a variety of cricket-related activities across several Asian countries. In Kuala Lumpur, a women’s trainer workshop will take center stage, while Nepal will host cricket clinics and workshops designed to fine-tune skills and engage local enthusiasts. Singapore is set to roll out community outreach programs to bring the game closer to the heart of its community.
Further broadening the reach of cricket, Uzbekistan and the UAE will offer foundation coaching courses to school Physical Education teachers, boosting the integration of cricket into school sports curriculums. Additionally, the UAE will captivate cricket fans with a men’s U19 inter-Emirates tournament, spotlighting the young talent poised to lead the sport’s future in the region.
Women’s cricket receives a significant boost this week, particularly with the launch of a women’s tournament in Tehran and the commencement of Malaysia’s Women’s Super League. The latter will feature five teams battling out in 14 matches, all of which will be available for live viewing on ICC’s platforms, marking a significant step in enhancing women’s cricket visibility.
Adding to the festivities, Kuwait and Bahrain will face off in the inaugural “Yalla Shabab” (Let’s Go Guys) series. Scheduled from April 25 to 27 at Sulaibiya Cricket Ground, this three-match T20 series, composed entirely of indigenous Arab players, aims to drum up local support and excitement ahead of the 2030 and 2034 Asian Games in Doha and Riyadh, respectively.
In a bid to engage cricket fans across all demographics, Hong Kong and China will hold their men’s and women’s Premier League Finals Day on May 5. Both games will be broadcast live locally, encouraging fan support and boosting the sport’s profile in the region.
The ICC’s Criiio training and education programme will be operational in Bahrain, Mongolia, Qatar, and Tajikistan. Junior cricket and school events are also set to take place in Cambodia, China, the Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand, making it a comprehensive week that touches virtually every facet of the cricketing landscape.
Coinciding with the United Nations’ observance of April 6 as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, Asia Cricket Week not only celebrates the sport but also promotes the values of sportsmanship and unity. It’s a fitting tribute to the power of sports in bridging cultural and geographical divides.
Aminul Islam, Regional Manager of ICC Asia, expressed his enthusiasm about the week, stating, “The enthusiastic response has been truly overwhelming, and we are thrilled with the buy-in from our members. The unique combination of broad reach, the power to overcome barriers, and the capability for low-cost, high-impact engagement makes Asia Cricket Week an effective tool in achieving our development goals. We are deeply impressed by the depth and breadth of each program designed by our members. Their genuine interest and dedicated efforts fill us with optimism for the future.”
Asia Cricket Week is poised to be a landmark event, promoting cricket as a vehicle for cultural exchange and development across Asia.
