Islamabad, Sep 28 : The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today appointed Tania Malik as the chief of the Women’s Cricket in the country, said a statement.

According to the statement published on the PCB website, Malik will assume charge on Friday to replace Urooj Mumtaz, who relinquished the responsibilities last year to be one of the team selectors.

Malik, who is Pakistan’s former national badminton champion in the 1987-88 season, has also represented Pakistan in the 1986 Seoul Asian Games.

Sports analysts are saying her appointment is of vital significance, especially after the England and Wales Cricket Board canceled planned tours of its men and women teams to Pakistan earlier this month owing to some unexplained reservations.

Britain’s men’s team was scheduled to play two Twenty20 International matches in Pakistan ahead of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Twenty20 World Cup 2021 in October while the women’s team was to tour the country simultaneously for a limited-overs series comprising two Twenty20 and three One Day International (ODI) matches.

A senior sports analyst Rizwan Khan told Xinhua that the cancellation of the two tours has not only hurt millions of fans but also damaged Pakistan’s plans to prepare its teams for the mega-events.

“Malik will have a big task over her shoulders to lift the down morale of the players by arranging new tours at the homeland or abroad,” added Khan.(UNI)