St George’s stadium to host 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup matches

Nelson Mandela
Bay’s iconic St George’s Cricket Stadium is one of three host venues for the
2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Tournament to be held in February 2023.

This is 63
years after the stadium hosted the first Women’s Cricket Test Match, in 1960.

Nelson Mandela
Bay will take its place on the international stage with Cape Town and Paarl
during the major event, which will attract a global television audience.

Hundreds of
team members, their support staff and fans are also expected to stay in Nelson
Mandela Bay during the games.

Dr Mark
Williams, Head of Mega Sportz, said “we are thrilled to have been selected as
one of the hosting cities for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. 

“It is a
feather in our cap that Nelson Mandela Bay is one of only three cities to be
selected for the event”.

Mega Sportz is
an affiliate of Eastern Province Cricket and will manage the stadium and games
and related events during the tournament.

“St George’s
Park Stadium will play an integral role in making this an event to remember.

“The first
Women’s Test match in South Africa was played at St George’s Park Stadium in
December 1960, so another slice of history will be added to the story of St
George’s Park Stadium,” said Williams.

“Nelson Mandela
Bay is a city of action. It will basically be welcoming its own daughters,”
said NMBM Portfolio Head for Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Cllr Bassie
Kamana.

“The captain of
the South African team is Dané van Niekerk, who comes from Gqeberha, the Friendly City.

“Marizanne Kapp
also comes from here.

“We will be
welcoming them to come to the city and to take that cup. They are winners. We
are winners,” he said.

Responding to
the announcement, Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber CEO Denise van Huyssteen,
said “this is a very encouraging development, which represents one of the first
major international mainstream sports events to be held in our city since the
advent of covid.

“We anticipate
that this will help boost much-needed economic recovery activities,
particularly in the tourism and hospitality sectors which have suffered
immensely over the past two and half years.

“Furthermore,
we hope that the ICC Women’s T20 Cricket event will serve as a catalyst in
attracting other major international events to Nelson Mandela Bay.

“We urge all
the stakeholders to proactively capitalise upon this opportunity in order to
showcase this city and its assets as an ideal location for future outdoor and
adventure sporting events.

“It is quite
fitting that this announcement has come during Women’s month, thus supporting
the advancement of female participation in what has traditionally been regarded
as male sporting activities,” said van Huyssteen.

“Women’s sport,
and cricket in particular, is taking its place in high profile events and we
look forward to inviting the world to our iconic stadium,” added Williams.

“It has been 20
years since we hosted the ICC Men’s World Cup in 2003 and this event in
February next year will once again highlight Nelson Mandela Bay as a sporting
destination that can deliver a world class event.

“We are in for
a very busy early new year with the SA T20 league taking place in January
followed by the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and our dedicated stadium team are
working full steam to ensure that we are ready to provide teams, fans and
viewers the best experience,” he said.

ISSUED BY SIYATHETHA COMMUNICATIONS ON BEHALF OF EASTERN PROVINCE CRICKET

St. George’s Park stadium.

Photo: Supplied