THE 2024 Women’s Criiio Cricket Festival concluded with a thrilling showcase at the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) ground in Morogoro recently.

The celebration, organized by Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA), is an initiative geared towards promoting cricket among women in the country.

It turned out to be a historic day for cricket in the region as girls and women of all ages and backgrounds came together to celebrate the game.

A TCA official revealed there was an overwhelming response from participants.

Team Kiondo emerged as champions, with Team Mzinga as the runners-up.

The TCA official noted that every participant went home with a gift, while the champions proudly lifted their trophy- marking a memorable end to the event.

The four-day festival successfully wrapped up with the last week's celebration.

The event united communities and fostered a vibrant environment for women in cricket. 

The association pointed out that it looks forward to holding more events that inspire, empower, and celebrate the joy of the game for all.

It was the first time the Women’s Criiio Cricket Festival was taking place outside Dar es Salaam.

Dar es Salaam had earlier hosted three festivals, with all taking place at the Gymkhana Club ground.

The festival's opening day brought together school youngsters and culminated in a triumph by Team Yombo.

On the following day, university students gathered for a memorable day of cricketing, with Team Mbezi ultimately emerging as the champion.

Criiio cricket program, operating under the International Cricket Council (ICC), is a celebration of the many ways cricket is played around the world.

A cricket fanatic can play in a park, on the streets, on a beach, or in a hall, using any type of bat and ball to play.

Criiio is played in any person's way. Traditional cricket is played with a hardball, bringing together teams of eleven-a-side.

Criiio celebrates all of the creative and adaptive ways that cricket is played around the world.

The council pointed out that Criiio can be played anywhere, noting the cricketers ought to bring bats and balls and make sure the playing area is safe. 

The Criiio cricket program facilitator training- offered by ICC - is an online workshop designed to support new cricket facilitators with the tools and knowledge they need to deliver exciting and engaging cricket sessions to new participants of the game.

The modules, the ICC said, cover key areas around safeguarding, session planning, and structure.

It provides tips on the delivery of the games and drills featured in the Criiio cricket program.

This training provides a great entry point for teachers, parents and cricket activators with limited experience in the game.

Upon completion of the course, Criiio facilitators would be able to deliver safe and enjoyable sessions, using the Criiio cricket program.

There is, of late, tremendous progress in women's cricket in Tanzania, with TCA stepping up efforts to boost women's participation in the sport from the grassroots.

One of the tangible achievements in the country's women's cricket is the senior women's cricket squad's victory in this season's Nigeria Invitational Women's T20I Tournament in Lagos early this year.

The four-team tournament, which brought together Rwanda, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria, took place from February 35- March 3.