Women's cricket at Commonwealth Games?

Cricket has struggled to venture into new markets away from its traditional strongholds and the influential Indian board’s reluctance to embrace multi-sports events as a means to increase exposure has hindered growth. 

Following a presentation by the Commonwealth Games Federation, the ICC board agreed to apply for a women’s competition at the Durban Games during its annual conference in Edinburgh on Saturday. 

“It will enhance the profile of the sport and create additional exposure and experiences for female cricketers,” ICC chairman Shashank Manohar, a former head of the Indian board, said in a statement. 

South Africa won the men’s event when cricket took place at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Malaysia, the only time the sport has been included in the programme.