Denied Till Now, Indian Women Cricketers Finally Allowed To Play Overseas!
By Cake Staff:
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (abbreviated BCCI) have finally made it possible for India’s female cricketers to participate in overseas leagues in Australia and England.
In a meeting held in Mumbai on Wednesday, The Women’s Cricket wing of the BCCI decided that the country’s female cricketers would be permitted to participate in the Women’s Big Bash League (held in Australia) and the proposed Kia Super League (held in England) “subject to contracts being offered by cricket boards through BCCI.”
Earlier, the BCCI, intending for Indian players to remain solely associated with the IPL, had barred any member of Indian cricket team from taking part in any international leagues. Unfortunately, this absurd law applied to the women’s cricket team as well — which was ridiculous, because women couldn’t play in the IPL in the first place. This caused our women players to miss out on the WBBL last year, citing ‘clashes with domestic matches’, and they weren’t among the squads of the new Kia Super League either, because apparently, BCCI hadn’t responded to their invitation. Hence, they were essentially sitting in India and missing out on opportunities to kick some major cricketing ass internationally!
However, things may finally be heading towards positive change due to these turn of events. Alongside this decision, the women’s cricket committee has also promised long-term changes in Indian women’s cricket through a proposed ‘vision document’, that would include new appointments for support staff, and perhaps, even increased publicity for the women’s team. In addition, the plan includes an emphasis on age-group cricket, with an ‘Under-23’ camp to be organised at the National Cricket Association and Zonal Leagues proposed for Under-16 players.
It is great to see that cricket, which has been, and is still, known as ‘the gentleman’s game’ is finally opening its doors to Indian female cricketers. Women in sport still have to face all sorts of sexism and neglect in India — and while we do have iconic female sports-persons such as Saina Nehwal (in badminton) and Mary Kom (in boxing), women in cricket have hardly gotten any mainstream attention, despite the fact that cricket is the most popular sport in the country. Hence, it is truly heartwarming to see things turning around and central cricket authorities acknowledging the need and importance for female cricketers getting opportunities to excel.
Whether these plans will actually be executed, and whether women in sport will finally get the recognition and respect that they deserve, only time will tell. But as of now, we’re just looking forward to seeing some of our amazing female players make us proud on foreign soil!
