Women's cricket will make history at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games

The International Cricket Council had announced last year that women's cricket will be a part of the Commonwealth Games for the first time. On Tuesday, the organisers released the schedule for the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

The Birmingham 2022 Games kick off on July 28 at the Alexander Stadium. The women's T20 cricket event will be played between July 29 and August 7 at the Edgbaston Stadium. The eight-day competition will begin with group stage matches, followed by knockout matches to determine medal winners.

This will be the second time that cricket will be played at the Commonwealth Games. The first appearance was back in 1998, Kuala Lumpur where men’s cricket was part of the multi-sport event.

"With 11 days of swimming and diving, 8 days of cricket, 8 days of gymnastics and 7 days of athletics, including the marathon, the summer of 2022 is set for a spectacular home Games," stated the official media release.

The qualification process for women's T20 cricket event

• The hosts England will be awarded an entry irrespective of the Rankings
• The top six teams in the ICC Women’s T20I Rankings will get the direct qualification
• The final spot will be decided through Commonwealth Games Qualifiers

The release also highlighted the fact that, for the first time, women's medal events outnumber men's, as well as a completely "integrated para-sport programme."

"The Birmingham 2022 competition schedule features more medal events for women than men for the first time in Commonwealth Games history, as well as a fully integrated para-sport programme," said the release.