MCC has today continued its Overseas Touring Programme for 2024, with a women's squad departing Lord's for Malta.

The Club has already toured Rwanda, the Netherlands and Estonia this year, with men's squads embarking on those trips, and now a squad of 12 women's Playing Members, plus a Tour Manager and Umpire, will travel to Valletta.

The squad, captained by Charlotte Gallagher and led by Tour Manager Jennie Kitzinger, will play in the inaugural women's Valletta Cup, a T20 tournament which is organised by the Malta Cricket Association.

This will be the first time a women's tournament has taken place, with the men's version having run since 2019. 

MCC will face Greece, Isle of Man, Serbia and hosts Malta across a five-day period. All the matches will be played at the Marsa Sports Club, where cricket has been played for over a century.

All four of the Club's opponents have International T20 status with the ICC, with Greece currently the highest ranked side out of the group, sitting in 33rd place.

As is consistent with other MCC tours, there will be an emphasis on developing the game in the country, which will be evident when the squad spend time coaching with over 100 local children between the ages of nine and 12.

Emma Marsh, Women's Cricket Recruitment Officer at MCC, said: "This tour to Malta is a great opportunity for MCC Women, not only to be playing in the first Women's Valletta Cup with international level opposition, but also to be encouraging the next generation of cricketers in the country with some important coaching. The whole squad is very excited to get the trip underway."

MCC has one further tour left in 2024, when a men's squad will head to Canada next month.

The squad for the tour of Malta is: Jennie Kitzinger (Tour Manager), Charlotte Gallagher (Captain), Sal Dixon (Vice-Captain), Lydia Clements, Alice Fox, Jan Godman, Christina Gough, Keely Juster, Amelia Kite, Nikki Little, Emma Marsh, Sarah McCann (wkt), Sian Price, Issy Routledge, Monika Loveday (Umpire). 

The fixtures in the tournament are as follows:

Wednesday 21 August
Malta v Isle of Man

Thursday 22 August
Malta v MCC
Isle of Man v MCC

Friday 23 August
Greece v Malta
Isle of Man v Serbia

Saturday 24 August
MCC v Greece
Serbia v Malta
Greece v Isle of Man

Sunday 25 August
MCC v Serbia
Serbia v Greece

Also Sunday 25 August - Tournament Final