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Journalism of Courage
While announcing the integration of the newly-constituted ICC Women8217;s Cricket Committee, president of the world body Ehsan Mani has already spoken on member countries beginning to move in a similar direction.
However, the matter seems to be far from even being looked into as far as the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI is concerned.
BCCI Secretary SK Nair, on Tuesday, refused to signal any such possibility in near future even while the Indian women8217;s team fought their way to the World Cup final in South Africa.
8216;8216;There is no proposal as such. It has not come on our agenda yet. If we feel it is necessary, we might take it up in any of the coming working committee meetings,8217;8217; Nair told The Indian Express. 8216;8216;It is not binding on the BCCI to merge with women8217;s cricket like any other country. We have made our point clear to the ICC that this is not on our list of priorities at the moment.8217;8217;
Nair, however, refuses to give reasons for not going ahead with the merger. 8216;8216;I would not like to talk about it now,8217;8217; he says. The next working committee meeting of the board is not scheduled for a month at least.
ICC media-manager Jon Long told The Indian Express that it was for the BCCI to take a decision on the merger. Tell this to Nair and the BCCI secretary says 8216;8216;he does not want to talk about it right now.8217;8217;
Former India cricketers Diana Eduljee, Shubhangi Kulkarni and several others have already been rooting for the merger. Unlike Australia and New Zealand, where women8217;s cricket is an integral part of their National cricket boards, the Indian women have yet to receive even a hearing from the board.
Eduljee says that currently the BCCI could be having their own problems to deal with 8212; internal politics, TV rights, elections, scheduling tours 8212; and are therefore not able to find time and discuss this. But she is quick to point out that it is time the board begins to adopt a more professional set-up. 8216;8216;I simply don8217;t understand what the reason might be. It appears to be a case of hoping against hope and it is sad to see the girls suffering while playing for their country,8217;8217; she says.
Meanwhile, Shubhangi is yet to decide whether to announce a prize money for her team for having reached the final.
Unlike the Australians and the New Zealanders, the Indians receive a stipend of Rs 1,000 per match.
The women from Down Under are not eligible for any payments from their respective boards but that does come as a respite to Mithali and her team.
Players feel that the money is not as important as merging with the national body. The team and former players are of the opinion that for the quality of cricket to change, 8216;8216;basic facilities and proper guidance is necessary8217;8217; which has to come from the BCCI.
