This year’s Women’s Twenty20 World Cup will have a tournament-record prize pool of $8.8 million with the winners set to earn $2.3 million, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Monday.

The 12-team competition will be held in England and Wales from June 12, with New Zealand set to defend the maiden title they won in 2024.

“The runners-up will receive $1.17 million. Both losing semi-finalists will earn $675,000 each,” the ICC said in a statement, adding that every participating team was guaranteed a minimum prize of $248,000.

The prize pool will be smaller than those at the men’s and women’s World Cups held in the Indian subcontinent in the last three years.

Last year’s 50-over Women’s World Cup in India and Sri Lanka had a prize pool of $13.9 million, the highest pot at an ICC event, and a 297% increase from its previous edition in 2022. Champions India took home $4.5 million.

The 2023 edition of the men’s 50-over World Cup, held in India, had a prize pot of $10 million, while this year’s men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka offered $11.25 million in prize money.

“The continued rise of women’s cricket through increased investment and opportunity reflects the growing influence and impact of female athletes on the global stage,” the ICC’s CEO Sanjog Gupta said.

In view of the ongoing ninth and tenth class examinations, the Chairman of the Karachi Matric Board, Ghulam Hussain, has issued directives for examination centres regarding female students.

According to the instructions, female students appearing in exams will not be required to remove their burqas or abayas at any examination centre.

The chairman stated that no complaints of cheating have been received involving female candidates; such measures are unnecessary.

He further warned that strict action would be taken if any examination centre is found forcing female students to remove their burqa or abaya during the exams.

The chairman also directed that no male invigilators should be appointed at examination centres designated for female students.

The annual examinations for 9th and 10th-grade students began across the city last Friday. As many as 385,000 students are appearing for the examinations.

Authorities have promised strict monitoring. Section 144 has been imposed around examination centres to maintain order, mobile phones are completely banned, and even nearby photostat shops stay shut to prevent any chance of cheating.

However, the matriculation examinations have been plunged into controversy, with widespread allegations of paper leaks, bribery, and severe administrative failures disrupting students’ ability to sit exams fairly.

Phil Garner, a three-time All-Star baseball lifer passed away at age 76 in The Woodlands, Texas, on Saturday, April 11, 2026.

Garner, a three-time All-Star infielder, led as the manager of the Astros to their first World Series appearance.

Garner was battling with pancreatic cancer for over two years, according to his son Ty, in a statement issued by the Pittsburg Pirates.

“Phil never lost his signature spark of life. He was so well known for his love for baseball, which was with him until the end,” said Garner’s son Ty.

Phil Garner gave baseball 16 years of his career playing for the Oakland Athletics (1973-76), then moving to Pittsburgh Pirates (1977-81), Astros (1981-87), Los Angeles Dodgers (1987) and San Francisco Giants (1988).

Pirates chairman Bob Nutting paid a tribute to Garner, saying, “Phil Garner was a fierce competitor, a respected leader, and a cherished part of the Pirates family.”

“His contributions to the 1979 World Series championship team will forever be part of Pirates history. We always appreciated welcoming Phil back to Pittsburgh, and it was evident how deeply this city, this team, his teammates, and our fans meant to him,” added Nutting.

Garner made All-Star teams with Oakland in 1976 and Pittsburgh in 1980 and 1981.

As a player, he made appearances in 150 games and had an .800 OPS for Pittsburgh during the Pirates’ 1979 World Series championship season.

He posted a .417 in the National League Championship Series sweep of the Reds and batted .500 in the World Series, helping the Pirates overcome a 3-1 hole to beat the Orioles.

Garner spent a decade and a half managing in the big leagues, posting a 985-1,054 record with the Milwaukee Brewers (1992-99), Detroit Tigers (2000-02), and Astros (2004-07).

He held the Brewers’ franchise record for most managerial wins until Craig Counsell overtook him in 2002.