MCC bats for Women's T20 inclusion in 2022 CWG

After being elected last year, Shane Warne made his first appearance at the Marylebone Cricket Club World Cricket committee meeting. And amidst a joint submission of the bid from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and International Cricket Council (ICC), Warne was one of the many to push for women’s tournament in Birmingham Games aiming for cricket to get into multi-sport games.

"It's a hugely exciting time for women's cricket after two great World Cups in two years and it's up to the cricket world and Commonwealth Games Federation to build on that momentum and bring cricket into multi-sport games," said Warne in Bengaluru, reported PTI.

"What's more, including women's T20 in the Commonwealth Games will demonstrate that the sport of cricket is inclusive, dynamic and with plenty of opportunities for growth," Warne added.

As per the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA), a survey revealed that 81% of women player respondents and 67% of men were of the opinion that cricket should be included in the Olympics. Its inclusion in the CWG would be a huge step towards that goal and former New Zealand women's captain Suzie Bates also echoed the same.

"Having Women's T20 at Birmingham 2022 would be a game-changer. Multi-sport events like the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics attract and inspire a different audience, so it's an enormous opportunity for women's cricket to win new fans, as well as being a chance for the Commonwealth Games to build on one of their core values - equality - and create more opportunities for female athletes," said Bates.

MCC has been cricket's formal law-making body for some time now with its committee of former players meeting twice a year to discuss concerns facing the game.