UK Secretary for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, has shared her enthusiasm over India preparing to host the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup later this year. During her official trip, she interacted with several players from the Indian women’s squad and voiced admiration for their potential to inspire budding athletes.

The global tournament is scheduled to take place in India from September 29 to October 26, with the grand finale set for the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium in Mullanpur. The other match venues include Raipur, Indore, Thiruvananthapuram, and Visakhapatnam — the latter being the only ground with prior international women’s matches, last hosting one in 2014.

Nandy also highlighted that the Indian women’s team is expected to travel to the UK this summer alongside the men’s squad. She expressed hope that their presence would spark excitement among young girls in the UK, much like England’s Lionesses did for football.

She stressed that if the Indian cricketers engage directly with youth by visiting schools and local communities, it could significantly boost interest in the sport. “Their journey can ignite the same fire we saw with our national women’s football team,” she remarked.

Calling them trailblazers, Nandy believes the Indian team can play a pivotal role in shaping the global image of women’s cricket. Their passion and achievements may well inspire a new generation of sportswomen worldwide.