Stand-alone Women’s tournament a step in the right direction, says Anjum Chopra

SportsCafe Desk
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Former Indian captain Anjum Chopra has stated that after a successful ICC Women’s World Cup in 2017, a stand-alone Women's T20 World Cup seems to be a step in the right direction and will help in the development of the game. The World Cup had generated a good response from the spectators last year.

The Indian Women’s Cricket team reached the finals of the previous edition of the Women’s World Cup held in England and Wales. Though they lost the final match the popularity of women’s cricket soared in India and around the world. Hoping to keep the zing alive the ICC is now conducting a stand-alone women’s World T20  Tournament which will not be conducted under the shadows of the men’s T20 World Cup.

“This ICC Women’s World T20 in the West Indies will be the first stand-alone tournament and that is a huge curve in the development of the game. Holding it along with the men’s event so far had its advantages but now it is on its own and the move is quite timely if you ask me,” Chopra wrote for the ICC.

“After the success of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 in England, especially in terms of the audience, it seems the right step for the development of the women’s game. With a packed, capacity crowd at Lord’s and the host nation England playing India in the final with no men’s cricket series going on back in India; the women’s team and its players became household names.”

Putting the Indian perspective into the article Chopra said that though the tournament will be a tough one, the Indian team is in with a chance nevertheless. She also praised the Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and asserted that she will be up for the challenge.

“For India, the tournament is undoubtedly a challenging one. With teams like England, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand also in the mix, there remains an opportunity to succeed nevertheless. Harmanpreet Kaur will lead India for the first time in a global event and I think she is up for the challenge both as a captain and as a player”.

The left-hander also added that after the advent of the T20 format of the game, there has been a change in the approach of the players and more power hitters have started dominating the game.

“The T20 format favours the power hitters and there has been a recognisable and noticeable change in the women’s game too. With exposureof playing T20I cricket in different parts of the world, the Indian players are also aiming at a mix of using skills with the power game,” the former India captain added.

“In India, the women’s game has gained in stature. This tournament is another opportunity for them to consolidate their position. With the promos already running on TV, I am sure people’s attention will slowly and surely begin to focus on this tournament; keeping that the men’s international cricket calendar too is packed”.

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