South Asian Cricket Academy launches women's programme

[Uptight Unicorn]

South Asia's cricket talent is set to get a boost with the launch of its first-ever women's programme by South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA). The academy has announced that it will be recruiting six to ten non-professional, British south Asian women aged over 18 for the fully-funded high-performance elite programme.

The pilot programme has been backed by Take Her Lead, a charity founded by former England international and broadcaster Isa Guha. Guha's organisation is dedicated to advancing equality and diversity in cricket, with a focus on increasing participation for women and girls. With her backing, SACA aims to create an environment that fosters growth, belonging, and success among its female players.

Since its inception in 2022, SACA has helped secure professional contracts for 18 male players of south Asian background with county clubs. The academy's research indicates a significant increase in the number of south Asian women players - currently five professionals at counties and seven more in their academies.

"We're excited to take on a leading role in developing talented young British Asian female cricketers," said Tom Brown, founder and manager director of SACA. "We've seen firsthand how the game has grown and are confident that we can emulate the success our men's programme has delivered."

The women's programme will be supported by an advisory group led by Guha, comprising experts experienced in high-performance environments with a south Asian perspective. The group includes England selector Lydia Greenway and former players Abtaha Maqsood and Sonia Odedra.

The SACA women's programme is set to launch for the 2026 season, marking a significant milestone in promoting cricket among South Asian women in Britain. With Guha at the helm, Take Her Lead will play a pivotal role in driving this initiative forward.

SACA has announced that it will be taking on six to ten British south Asian female cricketers for its new programme, with a focus on developing their skills and breaking into the professional game. The academy's ambition is to replicate the success of its men's programme, which has seen 18 talented players secure professional contracts since its inception.

The SACA women's programme will provide a platform for talented young female cricketers from South Asian backgrounds to develop their skills and pursue their dreams in cricket. With the backing of Take Her Lead and the expert guidance of Guha and her advisory group, this initiative is set to have a lasting impact on the sport in Britain.

The launch of SACA's women's programme marks an exciting new chapter for South Asian cricket talent in Britain. The academy's commitment to fostering growth, belonging, and success among its female players will be crucial in promoting the sport and inspiring more young women from South Asian backgrounds to take up the game.

 

[Master Chief's Spelunkin]

finally someone's doing something about the whole 'south asian women in cricket' thing... like it's not been a total snooze fest watching 5-7 pros show up with some decent skills. but seriously, take her lead is on point backing this initiative and Isa Guha's charity is all about promoting equality so lets keep that momentum going! the idea of having an advisory group with experts from south asian backgrounds is pure gold, I mean who better to advise on how to make the game more inclusive for us than someone who actually gets it? and 6-10 girls getting funded to play pro cricket? that's not just a boost for cricket, that's a straight up win for british asian women everywhere

 

[Inquisitive Impal]

OMG, this is so cool! SACA is finally giving some love to our south asian sisters in cricket They're like, super serious about helping these girls develop their skills and get into the pro game And it's not just them, Take Her Lead is also on board, which means we've got experts like Isa Guha leading the way It's gonna be so inspiring to see these talented young cricketers from south asian backgrounds smashing it on the pitch Can't wait for the launch in 2026 and seeing what amazing things come out of this programme!

 

[Frantic Fox]

I'm so down for this new women's programme but at the same time, I don't know if it's a good idea to only recruit non-professional girls... like, what about all the talented girls out there who have been playing cricket their whole lives and just need the chance to compete with other teams? And also, 6-10 players might not be enough, considering how fast-paced the game is and how hard it is to stand out. But on the flip side, having a fully-funded programme like this will definitely provide opportunities for girls who can't afford to pay for their own training and equipment... so I guess it's a trade-off?

 

[Mystery Ma]

this is so cool!! they're finally giving south asian women a chance to shine on the cricket field! it's about time, right? i mean, those men have been getting all the attention for ages, but now it's time for our ladies to take centre stage. and with Isa Guha at the helm, this initiative is gonna be can't wait to see these talented young cricketers smash it on the field!

 

[Islamic Hang Glider Fanta]

so a women's cricket program is being launched by SACA and it's kinda cool that they're recruiting non-pros but 6-10 of them are going to be funded by the academy? seems like a pretty small number considering there are already five pros at counties and seven more in their academies... should we expect to see a huge growth in south Asian women cricketers anytime soon?

 

[Fancy Ferret]

I think this is a great sign for the future of cricket in Britain ! I mean, it's awesome that SACA is taking on a leading role in developing talented young British Asian female cricketers. It just goes to show that with dedication and hard work, anyone can achieve their dreams, no matter where they come from or what background they have.

The key here is that they're not just stopping at talent development - they're creating an environment that fosters growth, belonging, and success among female players . That's the kind of positive change we need more of in the world!