In a ground-breaking move, Catherine Dalton, a 30-year-old coaching prodigy, has been officially signed as the fast-bowling Coach for Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). This historic decision marks a significant moment in PSL history and establishes Dalton as the first female fast-bowling coach of a top-level men’s cricket team. The official announcement of her appointment is scheduled for later today, and cricket enthusiasts worldwide are excitedly buzzing.

Born in England and granted Irish citizenship in 2015, Catherine Dalton’s cricket journey has been remarkable. She has showcased her prowess as a player and stepped into the realm of coaching with extraordinary finesse. Dalton represented the Irish national team in four One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and four Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) in her international career.

Catherine Dalton’s association with Pakistan cricket is not new. She has visited the country twice before, working closely with several talented fast bowlers, including Mohammad Ilyas, Sameen Gul, Arshad Iqbal, and numerous Under-19 players. Her ability to connect with these young talents and elevate their skills has made her a highly sought-after coach.

Dalton’s coaching credentials are impeccable. She holds an ECB-certified Level 3 Advanced Coach certification, reflecting her deep game knowledge. Previously, she has held coaching positions in the national fast-bowling academy in the United Kingdom and the Ultimate Pace Foundation in India, where she worked alongside renowned fast bowler Deepak Chahar. Additionally, Dalton was the assistant head coach at the UK-based National Fast-Bowling Academy, collaborating with cricket luminaries Ian Pont and Andre Nel.

She expressed her enthusiasm about joining Multan Sultans; Catherine Dalton told ESPNcricinfo, “Having worked in Pakistan with some of the Multan Sultan players on two previous visits, I am thrilled to be officially joining up with the franchise at the PSL. It’s not lost on me the ground-breaking moment for a female fast-bowling coach to be working in a major men’s T20 franchise. I am very humbled by the opportunity and cannot wait to hopefully help make a difference on multiple levels.”

Ali Tareen, the owner of Multan Sultans, has been a staunch supporter of Catherine Dalton’s journey. He remarked, “Catherine has been part of our player-development programme for almost five years now. I have seen how she has improved players firsthand. I always knew she would become a fast-bowling coach at a high level, and I am so glad that her first opportunity came at the Sultans.”

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Ali Tareen has also been an advocate for gender equality in cricket. When he resumed complete control of the Multan Sultans franchise, he expressed his desire for more females to apply for coaching and management roles, stating, “It’s about equal opportunity.” He emphasized the need to expand the hiring of female coaches and envisioned a future where they would also contribute to women’s cricket. With the upcoming PSL season, Tareen aims to have three female coaches, starting a journey towards gender parity in the league.

The Pakistan Super League, one of the most anticipated T20 tournaments globally, has announced that the 2024 edition will be held between February 8 and March 24. Multan Sultans, a team that finished as runners-up in the 2023 edition and consistently reached the final stages of the last three tournaments, is poised to impact the upcoming season significantly.

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