We need more international matches: Amita Sharma

Though she may be shy off the field,Amita was quick to business. She was as vocal about India’s young talent as she was about sharing her views about the stagnant growth of the women’s cricket tournaments in the country. “If we see the current scenario,our Indian team is doing well. We can never compare with the number of tournaments men’s have but still we need more tournaments for women to be organised in order to realise the grass root talent and compete well,” says Sharma.

Amidst the hype of India-South Africa series,the women’s team’s series victory against the touring West Indies last week got no mention but Sharma feels that the team has come up the ranks. “I feel we now have the capability to even match the standards of stronger teams like South Africa and Australia but we need more resources and tournaments. Last year,India had the opportunity to play only two international tournaments that included an England tour.

“One of the last year’s tournaments was the T20 world cup which is not an annual affair. So if we leave out the World Cup,it is one international tournament in a year. This is extremely less international exposure for us to do well against the big teams,” says Sharma.

And despite lack of tournaments,the women missed out on Asian Games participation as well. “Obviously,match practice is essential. And I would say that tournaments like Asian Games could have been a step forward in both giving us international exposure and our preparations for the world cup,” she says.

Despite BCCI’s efforts to restructure and improve the women’s cricket calender,she stressed upon the need to conduct grass root level tournaments starting from schools to colleges and universities. Sharma asserted that it’s not that girls in various parts of the country are not picking up the game but for them to come up,they need the platform of competitions and tournaments.

Being a Delhiite herself,Sharma praised the likes of newcomer Neha Tanwar who made her debut against the West Indies and who has played two matches. Just like several international cricketers that Delhi has produced in the past,she says there are more players in the pipeline from the capital who are capable to don the Indian colours.

“We are preparing well for the 2013 World Cup that is to be held in India. The current team is performing to its worth but two years from now,we will need more players and these young guns will provide strength to the team,” she says.