Despite suffering their second consecutive defeat in the Women’s Asia Cup in Sri Lanka on Sunday, the UAE’s 78-run loss to a formidable Indian team does not overshadow the significant strides made by women’s cricket in a relatively short time. Esha Oza’s team nearly qualified for the Women’s T20 Cup earlier this year and is making its second consecutive appearance in the Women’s Asia Cup in 2024. This is a notable accomplishment for a nation where assembling a team of female cricketers was once more difficult than attracting cricket-averse Indians to baseball.
Chaya Mughal, the former captain of the team and now the Women’s Development Cricket Officer at the Emirates Cricket Board, has witnessed the transformation firsthand. Mughal, a former domestic cricketer in India, had no prior knowledge of cricket in the UAE when she arrived in 2010 for a job. She went on to lead the national team before retiring and taking on the role of fostering the sport at the grassroots level. Her efforts, along with those of the cricket board, led to the prestigious ICC Associate Member Women's Performance of the Year award for their impressive performance in the qualifying tournament for the ongoing Asia Cup.
In an interview with Khaleej Times, Mughal highlighted the promising future of the UAE women’s cricket team, which has made significant progress at the associate level. She emphasized that the secret to their remarkable progress is hard work and dedication, with no shortcuts. The increasing participation of girls at the grassroots level, with around 400-500 young girls regularly training, has significantly impacted the team’s performance. The depth of talent in the upcoming bench strength gives the national team confidence to perform freely, thanks to the relentless efforts of coaches and players both on and off the field.
Mughal also discussed the positive changes at the grassroots level since she took up her new role, particularly the successful implementation of the “Get into Cricket” program for girls. This initiative has attracted and developed a cohort of 300-400 young female cricketers in the UAE, who have participated in various tournaments and a junior indoor world championship. Free clinics in 35-40 schools in Dubai and Sharjah have further promoted the sport and engaged young talents. The program has established girls' cricket school teams in about 10-12 schools across Dubai and Sharjah, highlighting its success in fostering interest and participation in cricket among young girls.
Looking ahead, Mughal believes that with strategic planning, dedicated resources, and continuous support, the UAE women’s team has the potential to aim for World Cup qualification in the coming years. The focus on nurturing talent, providing growth opportunities, and cultivating a competitive atmosphere makes the prospect of World Cup qualification a realistic goal.
