Women’s cricket should brace for heavy weather
These are tough times for Indian cricket and, tougher times if you happen to be a woman cricketer or a fan of womens cricket. Like their men counterparts, the ladies too have been frustrated by the lack of getting out on the field of play thanks to the restrictions and, tidings that are coming from the Board of Control for Cricket in Indian (BCCI) have been anything but glad.
While the BCCI were quick to announce that they would be holding the Indian Premier League (IPL) — subject to necessary permissions — in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) starting September, the cancellation of the women’s cricket tour of England was quietly done through ‘sources.’ The Indian women were due to tour England in June, which was postponed till September this year thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had proposed a three-nation tournament featuring South Africa as a kickstart to women’s cricket as they have done with the men’s version with the ongoing Test series against West Indies. With BCCI cancelling (albeit unofficially) the England tour, women cricketers are back to their mundane routine of exercise mats and shadow-practice at home.
It’s sad to see the way women’s cricket continues to be treated, not just by the BCCI but by influencers too. When the Indian eves reached the final of the International Cricket Council (ICC) 50 over World Cup in England three years ago, the euphoric attitude shown by the populace at large showed promise to take women’s cricket seriously. Their performance, as finalists of the last ICC T20 World Cup in Australia started debates which discussed topics about equating the ladies with men, including starting a womens version of the IPL and parity in pay.
Looking back to the present, in just four months after skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and her team came back, just before the Covid-19 lockdown, the situation vis-a-vis womens cricket looks as lost in the doldrums as it was in the past. The current situation of women’s cricket in India has had a few debates in the media about the apathy towards them by the BCCI. The current stage is such that no one — including the players, domestic and international — has a clue about the future.
Right now, the BCCI has yet to appoint selectors for women’s cricket after the term of the previous committee had ended in January this year. The resignation of Saba Karim as General Manager Operations means there is no point of contact within the BCCI for matters relating to working aspect of cricket for women as well as men.
While BCCI were swift to take action concerning their money spinning tournament, the IPL, they are slower than a snail as far as women’s cricket is concerned.
The latest decision of pulling out of the proposed tour to England by the Indian womens team is baffling to say in the least. While no ‘official’ comment has been made by the BCCI about nixing the tour, sources (anonymous, as always) hint that the tour was cancelled as they have problems relating to logistics like travel and organising training camps to keep the team in top shape.
Strangely (very mildly put) there seem to be quick fix solutions for these very issues when it comes to planning and organising the IPL which will be hugely magnified if one looks at hosting eight teams along with their support staff, not to forget administrative officials. Why then this disparity between men and women’s cricket?
Sources, one again, have been plugging the positive aspects of hosting the IPL in these extraordinary circumstances and hinting it can help domestic cricketers and how the tournament is for the betterment of Indian cricket, etc. As one writes this, there has been no official statement from the BCCI about the Indian eves tour being cancelled. The ECB website diplomatically states that the eves tour ‘remains postponed with discussions ongoing to understand the best way to reschedule these matches.’
Reaching two finals in a three-year period had people talking about the start of a revolution in women’s cricket in India and do gooders speaking about upping the ante for ladies wanting to play the game in the country. With not a peep coming out of the BCCI nor from the so called ‘well wishers’ women’s cricket in India (who keep harping on equal opportunities), it is safe to assume the worst for the fair sex. After all, most of their ‘friends’ seem to be the fair weather kind.