Internet Desk: The Indian Women cricketers will be allowed to participate in overseas leagues in Australia and England in the likes of WBBL and WSL, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Wednesday (June 1).
The proposal was collectively made in the BCCI Technical committee meeting in Bengaluru, last Sunday chaired by Sourav Ganguly. But the final decision will be taken soon in the Working committee meeting.
The women cricketers had missed out on participating in the Women’s Big Bash League in Australia and the Women’s Super League in England but the board has now eased the norms. Earlier, Anurag Thakur, the BCCI president, had said that the board it trying to create a league of their own on similar lines.
In other recommendations, the women’s committee will also present a vision document with inputs from the national team’s support staff. There will be camps for Under-23 girls at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in addition to zonal U-16 tournaments.
However BCCI’s announcement may have come too late, however, for Indian participation in the inaugural WSL, which will be held this year from July 30 to August 14. Sourav Ganguly, Chairman of Technical committee is out of the country right now and he said that BCCI will go to any level to improve women cricket in the country and the detailed statement will be provided by President Anurag Thakur.
The BCCI is yet to decide on the issue when the England and Wales Cricket Board sent a letter to all Full Members seeking their permission to enlist players. The ECB signed up 18 overseas players – from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies – and unveiled its final squad lists in April.
India all-rounder Jhulan Goswami was ecstatic with the news as she said, “Last year in the inaugural WBBL, Melbourne Stars approached me but I could not participate as BCCio did not give the NOC. If BCCI’s proposal gets passed in the Working committee meeting, then it will be great for Women’s cricket. i will contact Melbourne Stars officials as well as other franchisees and see what is in store for me.”
Jhulan thanked BCCI and CA and ECB for this step. She added, ” I want to thank CA (Cricket Australia) and BCCI cordially for the way they are planning to promote Womens’ Cricket through T20 format.”
India Women captain Mithali Raj echoed Jhulan ‘s words and said, ” This is a very good approach by BCCI, ECB and CA. It would have been good if it was taken a bit earlier. I would like to thank all the three cricket boards.”