In a groundbreaking move for Pakistani cricket, Catherine Dalton has been appointed as the Fast Bowling Coach for the Multan Sultans ahead of the 9th season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Dalton’s appointment makes her the first woman to hold a coaching position in a top-level men’s cricket team in the Pakistan Super League.
Catherine Dalton, a former Ireland international player and an England Cricket Board (ECB) certified Level 3 Advanced Coach, brings a wealth of experience to her new role. She has previously held coaching positions at prestigious cricket institutions, including the National Fast Bowling Academy in the UK, the Rajasthan Cricket Association, and the Ultimate Pace Foundation in India.
Currently, Dalton is actively involved with the Multan Sultans’ youth academy in Lodhran, where she is imparting her knowledge and expertise to nurture young fast bowling talent.
Expressing her enthusiasm about the appointment, Catherine Dalton said, “I am excited about this on multiple levels. The opportunity to work with such talented players is fantastic, and I will be re-engaging with many I have worked with before. Above this, though, is the fact that as a female taking a major role in a men’s T20 franchise, the news is ground-breaking. To be the first female fast bowling coach in men’s cricket is very humbling. In the 9 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 compared to any other leagues, and the standard of cricket being played is fantastic.”
Multan Sultans CEO, Ali Khan Tareen, expressed his excitement about Dalton’s appointment, stating, “Catherine’s work for Multan Sultans’ youth academies speaks for itself, and we’re all looking forward to her bringing those skills to the main team. In this process, we also want to establish new role models for young girls, those who succeed not only on the pitch as athletes but also in the boardroom as leaders and in the academies as coaches.”
Hijab Zahid, General Manager of Multan Sultans, also praised Catherine Dalton, saying, “Catherine is an exceptional coach with a proven track record of nurturing fast bowling talent across the world. Her inclusion in the coaching staff not only elevates the squad but also establishes an important milestone in inclusion and equity for Pakistan cricket as a whole. We welcome her to the Sultans family.”
Catherine Dalton joins Abdul Rehman in the new coaching set-up as the Multan Sultans gear up for the upcoming PSL season. Her appointment marks a significant step towards gender equality and diversity in the world of professional cricket coaching, and it is hoped that she will inspire more women to pursue careers in cricket coaching and administration. The Multan Sultans and the PSL as a whole are setting a precedent in promoting inclusion and opportunity for women in cricket.
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