ICC Women's World Cup kicks off by CricketArchive

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Event:

ICC Women's World Cup 2008/09

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DateLine: 6th March 2009

 

A glittering ceremony marked the beginning of the ICC Women's World Cup Cricket championship, which is being held under the aegis of International Cricket Council this year for the first time, at the iconic Luna Park in Sydney on Thursday.

 

Cricket Australia Chairman and ICC director Jack Clarke launched the sixteen-day tournament, participated by eight countries including defending champions Australia, besides India and England.

 

All the participants were photographed together in the shadow of famous Sydney Opera House. Players and officials were then ferried to the main venue, Luna Park for an official welcome function, hosted by former Australia cricketer Ian Healy, an ICC release said.

 

India will travel to Bowral where they will take on arch-rival Pakistan in the opening encounter on Saturday, while two-time champion England will take on Sri Lanka in Canberra on the same day.

 

This is the first World Cup since ICC's integration with the International Women's Cricket Council (IWCC) in 2005.