Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Waiting to be recognised
|
It's time women's cricket team gets support and sponsors, writes ABHIJIT SEN GUPTA
|
Mithali Raj
HYDERABAD IS all set to host the fourth one day international women's cricket match between India and New Zealand in the ODI series between the two countries which is now in progress. But the lack of awareness and publicity about women's cricket continue to dog this version of the game much to the despair of those associated with it. Despite the fact that India has produced several well-known players, the game has not caught on in a big way and not much recognition or rewards are received by the players. All the public adulation, media attention and rewards seem to be reserved for the men's team and the men players.
The present series is a typical example. The Indian team has chalked up two resounding victories in one-day internationals winning the Mumbai match by five wickets and the Aurangabad match by nine wickets. But not many cricket fans are aware of the performances that the women cricketers have been putting up. Andhra Pradesh itself has produced some very talented women cricketers. They include Sandra Braganza, Purnima Rau, Mithali Raj, Mamta Kanojia and Diana David to name a few.
All rounder Purnima Rau went on to lead India with distinction. Mithali Raj created a world record when she blazed her way to 214 with the help of 19 boundaries in a Test match against England at Taunton in August 2002.
But despite noteworthy feats, the women's version fails to evoke the kind of popularity and fan following that the men's version enjoys. Perhaps one reason for some amount of apathy could be the lack of power in the women's game. One does not see the soaring sixes, the powerful drives, pulls and cuts that one sees so often in the men's game.
Purnima Rau
Neither are there any genuine fast bowlers to make life miserable for the batsmen. But when it comes to skill, tactics and other subtle nuances, which make cricket such a charming game, the women are in no way lagging behind.
So what ails women's cricket? This is a question that baffles even the experts.
"I am totally at a loss. I really cannot pinpoint the reason as to why sponsors do not come forward to support women's cricket," says T.N. Pillay, long time administrator of the sport in Andhra Pradesh. From day one I have been struggling to find sponsorship.
There is a considerable amount of interest among the fans but the media and the sponsors have not been supportive. Where sponsorship is concerned we get only partial sponsorship if at all. In the past Zandu Balm, Sahara India and Hero Honda have given us some help but for the major part we have to beg, borrow or steal to keep the game going," he says.
"And mind you, Andhra Pradesh is one of the leading states in the country where women's cricket is concerned. The AP Women's Cricket Association is the only state body to have conducted the league tournament for 28 years in a row. After Air India and Indian Railways, we have the best team in the country. AP came third in the last national championship at Lucknow.
Particularly as far as the state teams are concerned, we are the best.
Our earlier performances have also been consistently good. But despite all this, we just don't get adequate support.
It is high time that the game gets a fair deal from all concerned," says Pillay.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
|
