The ICC Cricket World Cup is the most-attended cricket league in the world and let’s just agree, we Indians are a little cricket crazy country. While IPL league 2020 has already groped everyone’s attention full clock, every year we are also introduced to new female anchors every year who are already well-known celebrities and have been successful in alluring the audience with their witty and charismatic style of communication.
A decade ago, while anchoring, the ball was always in the men’s court, but now the time has changed and more female anchors have established themselves in the last few years.
Now, let’s take a look at these five female anchors in cricket:
1. Mayanti Langer
Mayanti Langer, based in Delhi, is the daughter of Lieutenant General Sanjiv Langer (Retired) of the Indian Army. She kicked off her career with Star Sports in 2006. In 2010, she hosted the prestigious Commonwealth Games in Delhi followed by the ICC Cricket world cup in 2011, the same year india won the trophy. In 2012, she married Stuart Binny, the Indian all-rounder.
Mayanti has been the face of Indian cricket broadcasting for years now and also made several appearances on the Indian Premier League (IPL). Her knowledge does not pertain only to cricket but also to football. She has previously worked for many shows on Zee Network. In 2010, she was a host in the FIFA World Cup broadcast in India.
2. Jannatul Peya Ferdous
After winning the Miss Bangladesh award in 2007, the 28-year-old model became the first cover girl of Vogue India from the Asian country. In 2017, Peya hosted a number of matches in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). In 2018, she made her second BPL appearance on GTV screen.
She became the presenter in the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales. Apart from modelling and anchoring, she worked with Redwan Rony in the movie Chorabali, 2012. In 2014, she was also featured in a Hindu music video.
3. Zainab Abbas
Zainab Abbas had earned a name in Pakistan broadcasting while also working as a makeup artist until 2015 when she auditioned for a cricket World Cup programme and continued hosting popular sport shows like ‘Sawal Cricket Ka’ and ‘Cricket Dewangi’.
Two years later, the 32-year-old has also been a part of Pakistan Super League (PSL). During the T20 tournament, Abbas has been seen, interviewing a number of players. In 2019, she became the first Pakistani to become International Cricket Council’s (ICC) presenter in the World Cup.
In November 2019, Zainab tied the knots with Hamza Kardar, the grandson of the legendary Abdul Hafeez Kardar, the first captain of the Pakistan cricket team, 1952.
4. Erin Holland
Erin Holland, former Miss World 2013 and Miss Australia, has already set her mark in the Cricket Tournaments. Along with Zainab, she has also hosted the PSL and has worked as a presenter in the Global T20 Canada. Her appearance in Big Bash League (BBL) has worked magic among fans.
She also had to interview all-rounder Ben Cutting, who is also her fiancée and the chemistry between them cannot go unnoticed. Holland is surprisingly a trained soprano singer too and in fact, she holds a Bachelor of Classical Voice degree.
5. Isa Guha
Did you know that Isa Guha is a former cricket player for England women’s cricket team? From 2001 to 2011, she kept playing until March 9, 2012, she decided to retire. Isa is now one of the best well-known commentators in cricket. She was also a part of the Ashes 2019 on English soil after which she received the opportunity to report on Steve Smith’s Test century on return after the ball-tampering scandal.
She is a Test Match Special commentator and a column journalist for the BBC Sports website. Moreover, Guha was a member of the broadcasting panel in the 2019 World Cup which England won. The Buckinghamshire-born married musician Richard Thomas in September 2018.
6. Shonali Nagrani
Shonali Nagrani is one of the beautiful female anchors. In fact, she has hosted several cricket shows. The former miss India International got the first opportunity to host the first season of the IPL.
She also hosted the Extra Innings of the IPL and the T20 World Cup show on espn-starsports with Cyrus Broacha. Shonali was also one of the top 5 participants at the Femina Miss India Pageant (2004). She acted as a presenter during the world cup matches.