In a boost for New Zealand's women cricketers, Twenty20 has been added to the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The Games will host the largest female programme in history.
The 71 Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs) have voted in favour of adding women's T20, beach volleyball and para table tennis, which will become the first major multi-sport event to feature more women's medal events than men's.
There will be 135 medals available for women and 133 for men.
Women's T20 will be staged at Edgbaston, with eight teams competing for gold.
The addition of table tennis takes the number of para sports to eight - a Commonwealth Games record - while beach volleyball remains, after debuting last year on the Gold Coast.
"Today is an historic day for the Commonwealth Games and I am delighted that we can now confirm that Birmingham 2022 is set to have the largest ever female and para-sport programme in history," said Commonwealth Games Federation president Dame Louise Martin.
"I would like to congratulate and formally welcome women's T20 cricket, beach volleyball and para table tennis to the official sports programme for Birmingham 2022. I know they will all help enhance what will be a spectacular and vibrant multi-sport event."
Birmingham 2022 chief executive Ian Reid said: "We proposed these sports, after carrying out a thorough and robust review with some of our partners.
"And it was clear to the review panel that these sports will help us to reach new audiences, ensuring that we seize this fantastic opportunity to raise the profile of the Games."
PA
