Ex-Australian Cricketer, Lisa Sthalekar was named as the President of FICA (Federation of International Cricketers’ Association) on 21st June. According to reports, the appointment took place at a FICA Executive Committee meeting at Switzerland earlier this week.
In an extraordinary feat of achievement, Lisa Sthalekar stands as the first woman to hold the rank of President at the FICA. She succeeds Ex-England batter, Vikram Solanki.
Who is Lisa Sthalekar?
Lisa Sthalekar identifies as an ex-Australian cricketer who has previously received the Australia’s Best International Cricketer Belinda Clarke Award (Women) in both the years 2007 and 2008. She has played in 187 matches for Australia within 2001 and 2013 in all three formats of the game.
Playing as an all-rounder she scored a stunning 2728 runs in ODI’s and took 146 wickets in the same. She also has 2 double centuries and 16 fifties to her name in the ODI format. She remains the first woman to score 1000 ODI Runs alongside take 100 wickets.
Also, a T20I Player, she has 769 runs and 60 wickets to her name. She was a part of the stunning team that won the ODI World Cups in 2005 and 2013 including 2 T20I World Cups in 2010 and 2012. She retired from cricket after Australia’s marvelous ODI 2013 World Cup win at Mumbai. In 2021, she was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, being the fourth woman to do so.
She also has a familiar voice in the commentary box and has worked extensively with the Australian Cricketers’ Association.
What is FICA (Federation of International Cricketers’ Association)?
The FICA or Federation of International Cricketers’ Association is responsible for coordinating the activities of all national players’ associations that represent cricketers at the professional level. It was founded in 1988 and represents the voice of players at the international level. It’s members include 7 countries with the likes of Australia, England, New Zealand and Bangladesh.
Lisa expressed her honor and excitement to be the new President of FICA. She went on to elucidate how she feels that cricket is becoming a global game as more and more countries participate. She looks forward to working on behalf of the players with the ICC ensuring they have their rights and welfare protected.Â
FICA’s executive chairman Heath Mills said that Sthalekar was clearly the most suitable candidate and was unparalleled as a former player and broadcaster. They added that her previous roles including her as an independent director of FICA and on the Board of the Australian Cricketers’ Association were testimony to her commitment to advancing player rights.
