LAHORE: Former Ireland international Catherine Dalton became the first female coach in the Pakistan Super League when she became Multan Sultans’ fast bowling coach on Tuesday.

“Having been to Pakistan to coach and having watched the PSL on TV since it started, it’s been a tournament that I would think a great deal about being involved with somehow,” the 30-year-old, who played four One-day Internationals and as many T20s for Ireland, told Dawn on Tuesday.

“Thanks to Ali Khan Tareen and his Academy project, he made this possible. Ali has helped females into cricket and invested in development of the sport. To be part of this entire structure is an opportunity I am very grateful for.

“In the nine years since the PSL started, it has grown in both stature and size. I firmly believe the PSL has the best local fast bowling attacks in it compared to any other leagues, and the standard of cricket being played is fantastic,” she further said.

The England-born Dalton, who is an ECB-certified Level III coach, had already worked with the Sultans, coaching pacers Mohammad Ilyas, Arshad Iqbal and Sameen Gul.

“The opportunity to work with such talented [Multan Sultan] players on the one hand is fantastic. I will be re-engaging with many I have worked with before. And to be the first female fast bowling coach in men’s cricket is very humbling,” Dalton said.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2023