Pakistan lesson for Indian board on women’s cricket

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had last year announced its intention of launching a women’s cricket wing. Earlier this year it followed up on that by taking responsibility for all cricket in the cricket. And, last month, it staged the first-ever Pakistan National Women’s Cricket Championship in various cities across the country.

The power-sharing in a possible new set-up incase of a merger, is one of the misgivings that most organisations may have. But the PCB women’s wing is headed by a women, former professor Mira Phailbus. And last year’s dispute between two ‘original’ bodies — the Pakistan Women’s Cricket Control Association (PWCCA) and the Pakistan Women’s Cricket Association (PWCA) and the PCB — has been settled.

The women’s wing was the ‘‘most logical option’’, the PCB’s Director (Board) Abbas Zaidi told The Indian Express. Speaking from Lahore, Zaidi cited the recent merger of the International Women’s Cricket Council (IWCC) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) and said the action by PCB was ‘‘only a follow-up’’.

‘‘The women’s cricket wing works under the PCB’s umbrella and that is the only valid organisation. Earlier we had bodies operating out of Karachi and Lahore but now even they realise the impact new ICC ruling.’’

Indeed, unlike in India, all forms of cricket in Pakistan — men’s, women’s, disabled, veterans’ — is played under the PCB umbrella.