Those in power won't be having prejudices, believes Shantha Rangaswamy
India's first female representative of the ICA, Shantha Rangaswamy, who has been working for the development of women's cricket after retirement, looks to lift the status of it. Rangaswamy highlighted how BCCI's restrictions have resulted in women's cricketers sitting idle for almost nine months.
BCCI has created history again as Shantha Rangaswamy became the first female representative of the Indian Cricketers' Association to be part of the BCCI Apex Council. This might very well be a huge leap for women's cricket in India as Rangaswamy also hinted about women IPL in some years. Rangaswamy, who has been working for the development of women's cricket even after retirement has a lot on her mind as she looks to lift the status of women's cricket.
"I don't intend to fight for anything. With people like Sourav , Jay Shah and Arun Dhumal (in the apex council), they are all pro cricket. Though I've known Sourav as a cricketer, the other two also I've found to be very proactive and quick on their uptake. So, I don't see a need to fight because they are accommodating and willing to listen. But the key issues I'm looking to address are having under-16 tournaments pan India, two-day games for under-19 and inter zonals," Cricbuzz quoted Rangaswamy as saying.
"Those in power, the new guys, the young lot that is coming in, won't be having prejudices. Generally, people like me with age-old beliefs can have prejudices. People in power have to ponder if what is happening is right or wrong. I will try to be a conscience keeper to the office bearers."
Rangaswamy also highlighted that BCCI's restrictions have resulted in women's cricketers sitting idle for almost nine months. The lack of domestic games not only creates a job crisis for the players but also affects their rhythm and interest affecting their performance on the international level.
"Even during our days, much before the BCCI took over women's cricket, we used to play in so many invitational tournaments; in Chennai, Mumbai, Kanpur and Kolkata. But BCCI don't permit it. We should stop with this dog in the manger attitude. Either I organise it or allow them to play (elsewhere). Now if you don't give permission if you don't have matches for nine months, (the players will lose interest). Now with no zones, from 60 players, it has come down to 42 players (in Challengers). My point is, how are we going to sustain the interest (of the remaining players)?"
The former India international, speaking about women's IPL, stated that it would take around five more years to happen so as to make the tournament a competitive one.
'I feel we are a few years shy of holding a women's IPL. My focus is on improving the under-16s and the under-19s. That is the feeder system, it needs to be broad-based. So that five years down the line we can have quality IPL matches," Rangaswamy signed off.