Pakistan Super League: Multan Sultans' Cath Dalton and Alex Hartley on female coaches

Former England spinner Alex Hartley retired from cricket last year

Cath Dalton and Alex Hartley hope their Pakistan Super League success shows female coaches belong in men's cricket.

Dalton is the fast bowling coach for Multan Sultans - the first woman to fulfil that role in a professional men's team - while Hartley is a spin coach at the franchise.

Multan are top of the PSL table this season and qualified for the knockout stages with three group games to spare.

"It's been absolutely incredible," Dalton told the No Balls podcast.

"Having both of us here, it's fantastic that the team has done well but also to show that female coaches can do it at this level."

Former Ireland international Dalton, 31, coaches at the National Fast Bowling Academy in the UK alongside former first-class cricketer Ian Pont and ex-South Africa fast bowler Andre Nel.

She still represents Essex in women's county cricket as a batter, but started her playing career as a fast bowler, which led to an interest in coaching the discipline.

Dalton and England's World Cup winner Hartley, 30, are the PSL's first female coaches and join the likes of ex-England wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor and former England women coach Lisa Keightley in working in the men's game.

"Qualifying already, that's just the icing on the cake," added Dalton.

"When you step up to this level, franchise cricket, it is something that a lot of coaches aspire to. It is a high level and there are some serious international players here.

"It's taught me to back myself in any situation."

The Multan fast bowling attack includes England bowler Chris Jordan and former England seamer David Willey, while Pakistan spinner Usama Mir leads the tournament's wicket-taking charts.

"It's given me that love of being back in a team environment," said Hartley, who retired from cricket in 2023.

"There was a little bit of criticism around the team before the tournament - we got rid of a few players and coaches.

"Our owner said to us, 'Let's just start well - obviously we want to win, but let's start well so that the noise around us having female staff can go away'.

"And we've gone and already qualified, the lads have been so good and it's just amazing."