LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to name its national U-21 women’s championship for 2014-15 to be held in December this year after the name of Malala Yousufzai, Pakistan’s young Nobel laureate for peace 2014.

Malala, who campaigns for the right of all children including girls to go to school, survived a Taliban assassination attempt in 2012 and earlier this month became the youngest ever winner of the Nobel peace prize.

Malala shared the Nobel prize with India’s Kailash Satyarthi, who campaigns against child trafficking and child labour.

“The Nobel peace prize for young Malala is a great honour for the entire nation. Not only has it given Pakistan’s image a huge boost, to the young women in this country, and our women’s cricket team in particular, but has also provided inspiration and stimulus to excel,” said PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan at a news conference here on Friday.

“Naming of our premier age-group women’s event after is a tribute to her signal achievement.”

Shaharyar said every region affiliated with the PCB would have a ground, specific for women cricketers so that they could hone their skills in a safe environment.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2014