Page 40 - IB May 2024

Sports

VANUATU WOMEN STUMP ZIMBABWE

IN WORLD CRICKET QUALIFIER

Nasimana Navaika bowls a spinner during the recent T20 World Cup Qualifier in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Vanuatu Cricket

By Alipate Pareti In saying that, Cutler admits that the women’s game is still
in its infancy.
A decade after its women’s cricket debut, Vanuatu’s “Our national women’s team started even later than the
women’s cricket team defeated 12th-ranked Zimbabwe in the men with their first international tournament in 2012. We’ve
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup qualifier in Abu Dhabi in April. only just had a decade of women’s international cricket with
It was the first for a Vanuatu team to appear in any cricket our most senior female player Alvina Chilia, who played under
World Cup qualifier. 15s with the boys in 2005.”
“For us in Vanuatu to have that victory against a test nation, The popularity of the sport continues to grow in Vanuatu,
it was amazing. It shows the great potential of cricket in says the CEO.
Vanuatu with that achievement,” Vanuatu Cricket CEO, Tim “We worked very hard to get into many schools and to as
Culter told Islands Business. many kids as possible to play the game. Alongside those school
Cricket has been played in Vanuatu since 1905, introduced programs, we have anti-gender-based violence messages
to Pacific shores by the British. that we deliver to appropriate ages-they are about healthy
Formerly known as the New Hebrides, Vanuatu was a British relationships.
and French condominium from 1906 to 1980, a period where “We have Women’s Island Cricket which again has
cricket was enjoyed as a game of leisure. educational messages about food, choices and just creating
According to Cutler, only from the 1990s onwards did a safe space for our women and empowerment through their
cricket change from being just a recreational sport played participation. Both these additional programs are supported
on weekends by expatriates and locals, into the more by the Australian Government,” added Cutler.
constructive competition structure that it has today. The schools’ programs teach an introductory level to cricket
“This was possible through the actions of current Vanuatu with basic skills for both primary and high schools around
Cricket Association President, Mark Strafford. He has been Port Vila – perfectly timed to coincide with the ICC T20 U19
President since 1991. Since then, cricket has grown so much. Women’s World Cup which was introduced in 2023.
Now we have more than 30 staff and professional cricketers Vanuatu Cricket have fielded hard off the pitch to get their
within our ranks,” said Cutler. team to compete in Abu Dhabi.

40 Islands Business, May 2024