ICC and Unilever announce landmark partnership on International Women's Day to strengthen women's cricket
The two-year partnership, kicking off at this year's Women's Cricket World Cup in India and running until the end of 2027, marks the world cricket governing body's first dedicated commercial partners for the women's game.
The first-of-its-kind association announced through a criiio cricket festival event in Dubai, featuring 100 girls and coinciding with the International Women's Day, will offer a major boost to the promising trajectory of the women's game.
Strengthening ICC's ambitions to accelerate the development of the women's game on a global scale, the partnership between the two pioneering forces will include other major events in the international calendar such as Women's T20 World Cups, U19 Women's T20 World Cups, and the inaugural Women's Champions Trophy in 2027.
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Gulf Today
an hour ago
- Gulf Today
Markram stars as South Africa win World Test Championship final to end long wait for cricket glory
Aiden Markram's magnificent century was the cornerstone of South Africa's five-wicket victory over Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord's on Saturday as the Proteas ended decades of cricket heartbreak by at last winning a major global title. South Africa, set 282 to win, finished on 282-5 before lunch on the fourth day, with opening batsman Markram falling for 136 after taking South Africa to within six runs of the title. The Proteas resumed on 213-2, needing just 69 more runs for victory. Markram, dismissed for a duck in the first innings, was 102 not out and South Africa captain Temba Bavuma unbeaten on 65 despite spending most of his innings limping with a hamstring injury. South Africa have such a long history of folding under pressure that could not take anything for granted against serial winners and defending WTC title-holders Australia. In 18 previous attempts in the one-day international and T20 World Cups, South Africa had only reached a solitary final. That was in last year's T20 World Cup in Barbados, when they lost to India despite needing just 30 runs from their last 30 balls, with six wickets standing. But South Africa, so often labelled "chokers" for their failure to close out knockout games, held their nerve on Saturday as a largely unheralded side succeeded where star players such as Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, AB de Villiers and Jacques Kallis had failed. Setback South Africa did suffer a setback early on Saturday when Bavuma, who had added just one run to his overnight score, was caught behind off Australia captain Pat Cummins to end a partnership of 147 with Markram. Nevertheless, at 217-3, with the sunny blue skies above Lord's creating good batting conditions on an increasingly placid pitch, South Africa were still well-placed. Markram then cut fast bowler Cummins for a resounding four to the delight of what was effectively a 'home' crowd given the large number of South Africa fans who had packed into Lord's on what was always going to be a short day's play. He then got the target down to 50 by pulling Cummins for another four. Cummins then brought on Nathan Lyon in the hope that the off-spinner could find the significant turn that had helped him on Friday. It was left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc, however, who raised Australia's hopes by bowling Tristan Stubbs for eight with a superb delivery that cut back sharply. Australia, in one last desperate ploy after using up all three of their review, took the new ball with South Africa just needing 14 more runs to win at 268-4. But Markram drove the first delivery with the new ball, from Josh Hazlewood, for four, and the next one for three. He was unable to finish the job, however, a pull off Hazlewood brilliantly caught by Travis Head at midwicket to end a 207-ball innings featuring 14 fours. A disbelieving Markram walked slowly back to the Pavilion, with several Australia players running to shake his hand as he received a standing ovation. It was left to Kyle Verreynne, who might have been out caught had Australia had any reviews left, to hit the winning run as South Africa completed the second-highest chase to win a Test at Lord's, behind the West Indies' 344-1, requiring 342, against England in 1984. This Test was also a personal triumph for South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, who finished with match figures of 9-110. Agence France-Presse
Int'l Cricket Council
11 hours ago
- Int'l Cricket Council
Smith lauds South Africa spirit in Lord's WTC25 Final tussle
Markram, Bavuma guide SA within touching distance of glory | Day 3 Highlights | WTC25 Final After bundling out Australia in the first session, South Africa finish Day 3 only 69 runs away from a historic triumph with eight wickets in hand. Needing just a further 69 runs to win, the Proteas will continue on Day 4 through Aiden Markram (102 not out) and Temba Bavuma (65 not out), having already put on 143 runs in their third-wicket partnership. Speaking on ICC's Digital Daily alongside Crystal Arnold upon the close of day three, Smith paid tribute to the work of the Proteas, led by his modern contemporary in Bavuma. 'We've seen such ups and downs, ebbs and flows in this Test match," Smith began. "The game going back and forth, and South Africa fighting back from 75 behind in the first innings, bowling well, getting themselves back in the game. 'It's been an outstanding batting performance. I think your instinct always tends to lie when you've seen the pitch play a certain way for the first two days, your instincts are always going to back that Australian pace attack on that surface. 'And then today the pitch just looked like it really lost its life. And South Africa had to toil hard to get those two wickets. But in the end, what an innings from Aiden Markram, and a partnership as well (with Temba Bavuma). 'Bavuma the captain came in and you just kept saying 'extend that partnership, extend that partnership'. 'And that's what they've done. And 69 runs to go for a World Test Championship." Aiden Markram scores crucial century | Player Highlights | WTC25 Final South Africa opener Aiden Markram took on the Australia attack and scored a crucial century on Day 3 of the World Test Championship Final at Lord's. The pair on the whole look unflustered even in the cauldron of a World Test Championship Final at Lord's, with Markram's century stealing Day 3 headlines. Smith felt Markram would hold the key in the chase, with his natural free-scoring flow coming to the fore. 'I actually picked him at the start of this innings. I said, 'If South Africa are going to go on to do this, he's the man' because he scores. He takes the game on and you'll keep the scoreboard ticking all the time. And he's certainly done that today. 'It's an occasion like this to see him own it and to perform. Coming off a nought in the first innings, coming out second innings under pressure. 'The performance that he put in, (it) was incredible to watch right from the get-go. He looked at good positions. He had one punch of the back foot. You thought, 'Okay, the man's here today.' 'Him and Temba will be feeling drained tonight. They still have got 69 to get. But I think tonight it's important to celebrate a great partnership and an incredible hundred." Bavuma and Markram thump cracking straight drives | WTC25 Final Skipper Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram continue taking the attack to Australia on Day 3 with some scintillating stroke play. Bavuma himself went above and beyond in his side's pursuit, building the stand alongside his partner in spite of leaving runs out in the middle, having been hampered by a hamstring struggle early in his innings. Having been the rock so often in South Africa's batting pursuit throughout the World Test Championship cycle, the effort was no surprise to Smith watching on from the commentary box. 'It was always important. Temba's been I think South Africa's most consistent batter, he's looked in control. First over he obviously felt good, went up and over cover, and obviously battling the injury as well. 'And I think we mustn't underestimate that he's fought on through a sore hamstring, and really putting his country first and building that partnership with Markram. Starc produces gritty half-century | Player Highlights | WTC25 Final Mitchell Starc put on a resilient display against an in-form Proteas pace-bowling unit to help the defending champions to a 281-run lead. Smith kept a close eye on South Africa's opposition in the field, largely bereft in answers as the batting pair pressed on. The former skipper believes there was little Australia could have changed in response, though did feel a number of defensive fieldsets allowed South Africa to carry on, even with Bavuma impeded. 'I think the attack did everything they could. Maybe (Nathan) Lyon could have been a touch wider into the rough a bit more. 'He (Australian captain Pat Cummins) had quite a defensive field at times with point back and square-leg back. And I think especially with Temba's injury, they maybe needed to force the play a little bit when they still needed 150 runs to get. 'But other than that I think you have to give credit to the South Africans. I mean, I don't want to take away from their performance, today with Aiden and Temba in particular was outstanding." Proteas' Relentless Leader | Graeme Smith | ICC Hall of Fame A fearless leader who epitomises grit and resilience. Graeme Smith - a pillar of South African cricket and a leader like no other. Smith has kept a close eye on the South African setup through different roles after calling time on his international career in 2014, including a stint as director of cricket at Cricket South Africa from 2019 to 2022. Looking at the team of 2025, Smith paid tribute to a group of players who have buckled down on a quest to lift the World Test Championship mace. 'I think we've fought extremely hard over the last two to three years to really build South African cricket up again, from various people have got involved and see the team performing well on the global stage. "Everyone wrote South Africa off before this game, disappointed South Africa were in the final. "And now they sit on the brink of an opportunity to win that Final against a great Australian team. "I think this will really lift the game again in South Africa - Temba holding the mace and what that will mean for the people back home."
Int'l Cricket Council
13 hours ago
- Int'l Cricket Council
Prince hails centurion Markram but says South Africa must ‘stay calm'
Ashwell Prince labelled Aiden Markram the 'man for the big occasion' after the opener steered South Africa towards a famous run chase in the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025. Chasing 282 to win, South Africa are 213 for two at the end of day three thanks to a majestic century from Markram and gutsy 65 not out from captain Temba Bavuma. South Africa need just 69 more runs to become champions and while Australia will refuse to give up hope of a remarkable comeback, the Proteas are firmly in the driving seat as they bid for a first ICC trophy in 27 years. Markram struck 11 fours in an unbeaten 102, bringing up his eighth Test ton with a gorgeous flick through mid-wicket in the penultimate over of the day. He struggled to contain his emotions, wiping tears away from his eyes, and batting coach Prince said a small technical adjustment was the secret to his success. 'We certainly know he is someone for the big occasion, of that there is no doubt,' the former middle-order batter said. 'He has done some technical work but not a lot. In the last little while, he has had a tendency to push his hands away from his body and cut across the ball but it was not a big fix and as soon as he saw a few videos, it was simple. 'Albeit in a losing cause at Newlands, on a difficult pitch, he played an unbelievable innings against India last year and scored a ton on that surface – so we know what he is capable of. 'I think [coach] Shukri Conrad deserves credit for staying calm, it is one of his strengths. 'As soon as Aidan and Temba came up the stairs, he said we need to do the same tonight as we always do and tomorrow we do the same warm-up. It's the same processes. We understand the magnitude and what's at stake but now we stay calm.' It didn't always appear to be South Africa's day. They started Friday morning seeking two quick Australian wickets to leave the target as low as possible, but – despite Kagiso Rabada trapping Nathan Lyon lbw early – Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood dug in. They put on 59 for the 10th wicket and batted for the entire morning session, with Hazlewood finally out to the last ball before lunch to leave the target at 282. From there, it was all South Africa. While Australia benefited from benign conditions on a flat pitch to convert 144 for eight into 207 all out under the morning sun, it was the Proteas' turn for the rest of the day. Starc removed Ryan Rickelton for six but a 63-run partnership between Markram and Wiaan Mulder settled the nerves, with runs flowing amid regular boundaries. A sharp Marnus Labuschagne catch sent Mulder back to the pavilion for 27, while Steve Smith dropped Bavuma on two – and dislocated his finger in the process, earning him a trip to hospital for the rest of the day. However, after that scare, Bavuma oozed class despite damaging his hamstring in the afternoon session. Prince admits they considered retiring him during the tea interval but the captain insisted he could carry on and he hit five boundaries in a 121-ball knock. 'It is not done yet but he has had to fight throughout his career and this could be a defining moment for his career,' Prince added. 'It is the biggest stage in Test cricket. He is tough, Aiden has great respect for Temba and I think this team's greatest asset is the unity. 'You only have to look at how they celebrate a wicket to understand that. They are all aware that South Africa have had greater individual players but they have something special going on in the dressing room and it helps them drag each other along.' While 69 runs is not an intimidating number of runs to score, keeping South Africa's batters level-headed is now the challenge. Much has been made of their record in ICC tournaments – they have come close to adding to their ICC Men's Champions Trophy 1998 success on many occasions but always fallen short – but this is their greatest opportunity of breaking the duck. 'I don't know how I will sleep tonight,' Prince joked. 'I felt the message has been the same throughout. We just want to make them believe that they can do it and then step out the way and allow them to do it.' ENDS
