Era
Prime VIP
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is leaving no stone unturned in making the 500th Test occasion a grand success.
Apart from inviting all its former men’s Test captains to witness the first Test against New Zealand at Kanpur from September 22, the Indian cricket board on Monday also took a decision to invite all Test skippers from the women’s team.
Although the current skipper Mithali Raj and vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur had already got their invites for the 500th Test, former Test captains were not a part of the BCCI’s plan initially.
It was only done after a few former women’s Test captains requested the BCCI officials to extend the invitation to the women’s cricketers as well.
“This will be a big moment for India’s men’s cricket team, but if the BCCI would have extended their invites to former Test skippers of the Indian women’s team, it would have been a wonderful gesture. In the recent past, the BCCI has taken some wonderful decisions for uplifting women’s cricket, but by inviting the former women’s captains for the 500th Test would have done a lot of good for women’s cricket,” former India skipper Diana Edulji had told Hindustan Times on Sunday.
She was nonetheless elated with the change of heart of the Board officials. “Our request has been approved. All Test captains will be invited and most of them will make it to Kanpur,” Edulji said.
Former skipper Shubhangi Kulkarni, who had also requested the BCCI on the same, was delighted with the Board’s gesture.
Edulji said it is important that the BCCI gives equal treatment to women’s cricket as well. “We have always had to ask for things. It has never been awarded to us. Whenever there is any discussion on cricket in the BCCI, it is all about the men’s team. Any thought on women’s cricket does not come naturally to them.
“As I have been saying, winning one big tournament or a championship will perhaps help change this attitude,” said Edulji.
Apart from inviting all its former men’s Test captains to witness the first Test against New Zealand at Kanpur from September 22, the Indian cricket board on Monday also took a decision to invite all Test skippers from the women’s team.
Although the current skipper Mithali Raj and vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur had already got their invites for the 500th Test, former Test captains were not a part of the BCCI’s plan initially.
It was only done after a few former women’s Test captains requested the BCCI officials to extend the invitation to the women’s cricketers as well.
“This will be a big moment for India’s men’s cricket team, but if the BCCI would have extended their invites to former Test skippers of the Indian women’s team, it would have been a wonderful gesture. In the recent past, the BCCI has taken some wonderful decisions for uplifting women’s cricket, but by inviting the former women’s captains for the 500th Test would have done a lot of good for women’s cricket,” former India skipper Diana Edulji had told Hindustan Times on Sunday.
She was nonetheless elated with the change of heart of the Board officials. “Our request has been approved. All Test captains will be invited and most of them will make it to Kanpur,” Edulji said.
Former skipper Shubhangi Kulkarni, who had also requested the BCCI on the same, was delighted with the Board’s gesture.
Edulji said it is important that the BCCI gives equal treatment to women’s cricket as well. “We have always had to ask for things. It has never been awarded to us. Whenever there is any discussion on cricket in the BCCI, it is all about the men’s team. Any thought on women’s cricket does not come naturally to them.
“As I have been saying, winning one big tournament or a championship will perhaps help change this attitude,” said Edulji.
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