The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday (November 19) postponed the 2022 Women's T20 World Cup scheduled in South Africa by three months to a new slot in February 2023. 

The governing body took the decision keeping in mind an otherwise cluster of big-ticket events that 2022 would've hosted and avoid excessive players' workload in an already rejigged calendar affected by COVID-19 pandemic. 

Read Also: Australia leapfrogs India after ICC changes points system for World Test Championship

The ICC had in August shifted the 2021 Women's ODI World Cup to the following year and has just announced that 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham will see women's cricket making its debut at the quadrennial sporting event in the T20 format. 

"The Board confirmed that the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will move from its current slot at the end of 2022 to 9-26 February 2023," said the ICC in a statement. 

The apex body stressed, if not postponed, the year would've seen "three major events in 2022 with the Commonwealth Games in July 2022 and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup due to be held in November 2022."

"As there are currently no major women’s events scheduled to take place in 2023 the Board confirmed the switch for the T20 World Cup to better support player preparation and to continue to build the momentum around the women’s game beyond 2022."

ICC CEO Manu Sawhney also explained the rationale behind the call. 

"Moving the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup to 2023 makes perfect sense on a number of levels," said Sawhney.

"Firstly, it will provide a better workload balance for players giving them the best possible opportunity to perform to the highest levels on a global stage."

"Secondly, we can continue to build the momentum around the women’s game through 2022 and into 2023. We are committed to fuelling the growth of the women’s game and today’s decision enables us to do that over the longer term."

(Inputs from PTI)