Interest in women’s cricket is a great sign

The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup has come a long way. Through the 2017 edition which ended on Sunday, the women have shown that they can make people throng the stadiums by producing exciting contests.

No one ever thought that such long queues will ever be witnessed to enter the stadium for women’s cricket.

Through an entertaining final at the historic Lord’s ground between hosts England and India, it has become obvious that women’s cricket as a whole is set for more glory in the coming days.

Those blinded by the glamour of men’s cricket need to understand that Women’s World Cup is older than the men’s edition as the first Women’s World Cup was held in 1973, two years before the inaugural men’s event.

It wasn’t a smooth journey for women’s cricket. Initially, the Women’s World Cup was organised by International Women’s Cricket Council and only in 2005 they merged with the International Cricket Council.

There was a time when due to lack of funds several countries declined to even contest in the event and at times the World Cup could be staged only after a gap of six years.

If women hadn’t worked hard on their game, their cricket would not have been attractive. For this edition, the prize money for the tournament was increased to $2 million (Dh7.35 million), a huge increase on 2013’s figure of just $200,000.

Dull and boring no more

There was a time when people watching women’s cricket used to comment that their skill level and calibre was terrible and boring to watch.

No one would have put in any money for women’s cricket had they continued to produce poor cricket. This year every World Cup match was even telecast live.

It was a delight to hear fans who discussed only about men’s cricket debate on the chances of the teams that can win the Women’s World Cup.

Indian captain Mithali Raj is now being compared with Sachin Tendulkar for her consistency.

Women cricketers now dream of fame and even setting of milestones.

England’s Anya Shrubsole who destroyed India in the final at Lord’s at the age of 10 had promised her father that one day she would play at the historic ground.

It is indeed laudable that ICC is willing to back women’s cricket in a big way. ICC chief executive David Richardson said there is a growing interest globally in women’s sports and that ICC wants cricket to be front and centre of this and lead by example.

The very fact that fans are approaching women cricketers for autographs is a great sign. The day when fans will name men and women’s cricketers in the same breath as their idols is not far away.