Asia Cup to tune women cricketers

KARACHI, Tuesday (AFP) The second Asia Cup for women cricketers is the best platform to prepare regional teams for international tournaments, the players said Tuesday on the eve of the three-nation event hosted by Pakistan.

"The Asia Cup is the best platform for regional teams to do well and get tuned up for bigger events like the World Cup," Indian women's team captain Mithali Raj told a media briefing to launch the nine-day event.

India, defending the title they won by beating Sri Lanka in a two-team event in 2003 and runners-up to Australia in the World Cup earlier this year, will be playing in a different atmosphere in a conservative Pakistan.

Only families will be allowed to watch the matches, while players of all teams will follow a strict Islamic dress code of baggy trousers and long shirts - unlike the skirts employed by some teams at international level.

But a dearth of female umpires has forced local organisers to employ male umpires, a decision which could spark a reaction from fundamentalists who have opposed mixed sports in the recent past. "We have women umpires in India, but if there are male umpires employed we don't have any problems if we are getting fair decisions," said Mithali.

"India is ranked higher but we will not show any complacency, because any team can upset any other team on its day," said Mithali, whose team beat England's women early this year.

Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka on Wednesday, while Sri Lanka will face off against India on Thursday in the double league event. After two rounds of matches the top teams will play the final on January 4. South Asia's other Test-playing nation Bangladesh did not send a team.

Pakistan captain Sana Javed said women need exposure to excel at higher level.

"The Asia Cup is the launching pad for women in the continent. With more and more events like this we can improve our level of playing," said Sana, who took over as captain last month.

Sri Lankan captain Shsikala Siriwardene said her country had progressed well at the Asian level.

"Women's cricket in Sri Lanka is just eight-nine years old but we have progressed along nicely and if we win here it would be a great boost. We will do our best to win," said spin bowler Shsikala.

Cricket has been attracting a growing female fan base in India.

The women's game got a shot in the arm in Pakistan earlier this year when it was placed under the supervision of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Pakistan hosted its inaugural national cricket championship for women in March. It then invited the Indian Under-21 team for a first-ever women's cricket series between the rivals, which India won in October.