The United Cricket Board of South Africa extends its warmest greetings to the women of South Africa on National Women's Day.

The UCBSA wishes to acknowledge the role that women play in the success of South African cricket wherever it is played.

Since its inception in 1991, the UCBSA has pledged to take cricket to all communities and to provide new opportunities through our sport for the youth of our country.

In doing this, we have introduced thousands of young people, boys and girls, to the game throughout South Africa in our bid to make cricket a truly national sport.

Whatever success we have achieved in growing the game over the past decade is due in the main to hundreds of women primary school teachers in previously disadvantaged communities. They have voluntarily become qualified cricket coaches in order to help the youth progress their lives through cricket.

Our research, too, has shown that women constitute a significant percentage of the public who support cricket in the stands or at home watching on television.

The UCBSA also acknowledges the prowess of our representative women's cricket teams, and pledge our growing support to them.

And finally, we pay tribute to those mothers who have cricketers as sons or daughters. We know where their loyalties lie, and thank them for this.

© United Cricket Board of South Africa