Clare Connor appointed chairwoman of ICC Women’s Committee

Clare Connor appointed chairwoman of ICC Women’s Committee

England’s Connor replaces Netherlands’ Betty Timmer

 

Former England captain Clare Connor has been appointed chairwoman of the International Cricket Council Women’s Committee.

Connor, who currently sits on the ICC Cricket Committee and is Head of Women’s Cricket at the England and Wales Cricket Board, replaces outgoing chairwoman, Netherlands’ Betty Timmer.

Timmer, who held the role since the committee’s inauguration in 2005, steps down having accomplished a number of milestones in women’s cricket in her time as head of the committee.

During her period at the helm of the committee, Timmer successfully pushed for the integration of men’s and women’s cricket, with the first joint ICC Men’s and Women’s World Twenty20 being held in England in 2009.

A former cricketer, Timmer also worked on the successful integration of the International Women’s Cricket Council and the ICC along with the integration of male/female cricket amongst member boards.

Connor, who will head the committee which discusses a variety of issues relating to the women’s game, will hold the role for two years and can be re-elected at the end of her term. By virtue of being chairwoman of the Women’s Committee, Connor will now also represent women’s cricket on the ICC Development Committee.

The 34-year-old former England and Sussex captain represented England in 93 ODIs and 16 Tests in her playing career before turning to cricket administration a couple of years after her retirement in 2008. She was awarded the British honour of MBE for her services to women’s cricket in 2004 and then the honour of OBE in 2005 for leading the England women’s team to its first Ashes victory in 42 years.

Connor said: “First of all I would like to thank Betty Timmer for her hard work and enthusiasm. Betty has worked tirelessly for many years to help promote women’s cricket globally through the ICC Women’s Committee. As such, she leaves the women’s game in a healthy situation.

“I’m delighted to be taking over as chairwoman of the committee at such an exciting time for the women’s game and immediately after the launch of the new ICC Strategic Plan in which the women’s game has real focus. I believe this role will complement my position on the ICC Cricket Committee and also as Head of Women’s Cricket at the ECB.”