The ICC’s 100% Cricket movement has been amplified by its first-ever ICC 100% Cricket Mentorship Programme during the inaugural, ICC Under19 Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa.
The programme aims to provide support to the youngsters in their development during the tournament with learning opportunities around Health education, with a focus on menstruation and its effect on performance, media training and overall support during training sessions, team meetings, planning sessions until the conclusion of the group stage tournament matches.
Following on from the success of the launch of the 100% Cricket campaign in 2020, with the subsequent inclusions of properties such as the 100% Cricket webinar series, 100% Cricket Super Stars, the 100% Cricket Podcast, the 100% Cricket Future Leaders Programme, 100% Cricket Coach and Umpire Workshops and the 100% Cricket themed ICC Annual Conference, the ICC has taken its commitment to raising the profile of women’s cricket one step further with the 100% Cricket Mentorship Programme.
A mentor has been assigned to all 16 participating teams with the intention to support, encourage and inspire the future stars as they make their transition onto the global stage and become heroes.
The mentors are assisting in giving players a world-class experience both on and off the field in their first-ever World Cup, sharing their own experiences as young cricketers and giving insight on how to navigate big tournaments and their blossoming careers going forward.
The mentors are as follows:
Mignon du Preez – South Africa and United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Trisha Chetty – India and Sri Lanka
Abtaha Maqsood – Scotland and Bangladesh
Sunette Viljoen – Australia and United States of America (USA)
Frankie Mackay – New Zealand and Indonesia
Lydia Greenway – England and Ireland
Anisa Mohammed – West Indies and Rwanda
Sana Mir – Pakistan and Zimbabwe
ICC Women’s Cricket Manager, Snehal Pradhan, said: “As part of our approach to support Member countries, and participating teams at this tournament the ICC has actioned the 100% Cricket Mentorship Programme.
“With so many players participating for the first time in a global event and a few teams making their debut onto the global stage, we wanted to provide the opportunity for them to rely on not just the support of this event, but a big sister attached to their team.
“That allows the players to rely on the experience of athletes who have walked a mile in their shoes and know what goes into doing well at a global tournament, handling the pressure but also enjoying yourself.
“It is a special project for everyone at the ICC who has been involved as it is the first of its kind. With so many role models emerging out of women’s cricket, there is an opportunity for them to give back to the next generation and the opportunity for the ICC to support the future stars of women’s cricket is truly amazing.”
Former Pakistan Captain and Mentor, Sana Mir, said: “The Mentorship Programme provides a unique opportunity to the next generation of cricketers to have their role models by their side to support, guide, assist to get the best out of them.
“It is still very fresh in my mind when we were discussing at ICC Women’s Committee about the importance of having mentors during our journeys.
“To have an U19 Women’s World Cup and providing additional support with mentors shows the ICC’s commitment to expand the women’s game. It gives me immense pleasure to be a mentor to Pakistan and Zimbabwe and I’m enjoying watching the players bloom before our very eyes.”
England’s Lydia Greenway also shared her excitement in her involvement with the programme. She said:
“This is a hugely exciting steppingstone in the players’ journey.
“We want to ensure they finish the tournament with brilliant memories and experiences, with the motivation to take the game forward.
“It’s been an exciting time with the players and observing their growth with the passing of every match in the tournament has been really gratifying.”
From Scotland, mentor, Abtaha Maqsood said; “The 100% Cricket Mentorship Programme is an exciting innovation and the players coming through this tournament are incredibly lucky to have female role models that they can look up to.
“When I was younger, I struggled to find female role models within the game due to the lack of visibility in women’s cricket, but an initiative like 100% Cricket Mentorship Programme helps change this. I’m honoured to be given the opportunity to mentor Scotland and Bangladesh, we’ve had the most fun so far and there’s been a lot of learning and growing from the players’ point of view. They have been hungry to soak up what has been shared and it’s been an incredible experience so far.”
USA head coach, legendary former West Indian batter and ICC Hall of Fame Inductee, Shivnarine Chanderpaul said of his team’s mentor:
“The ICC Mentor, Sunette Viljoen, assigned to our team has been fantastic and an inspiration to the girls. Her wealth of experience as an international cricketer and Olympic athlete has connected her with the USA players. She’s an inspiration on and off the field, from her daily inspirational quotes shared in the team’s chat group to her actually being present at our training sessions has been value added.
“Many of the girls no doubt see a pathway possible to a professional cricket career, similar to Sunette, we have an Olympic hopeful in our team, who no doubt was impacted by Sunette’s presence.
“With regard to the other aspects of the ICC’s 100% Cricket Mentorship Programme initiated this year, all of the workshop sessions have been very informative and an added dimension to the development of the total cricketer.”
