The Mumbai Cricket Association will soon introduce club culture in women's cricket too. Come March 2016, many local woman cricketers will be involved in inter-club matches that will be played on the league-cum-knockout basis.
Mumbai cricket has always had rich club culture. It has produced many top cricketers who have gone on to represent India. However, the traditional club culture was restricted to men.
The Mumbai Cricket Association will soon introduce club culture in women's cricket too. Come March 2016, many local woman cricketers will be involved in inter-club matches that will be played on the league-cum-knockout basis.
"We always had a rich club culture. Now we are going to involve women's cricket and have an inter-club tournament. That will help us promote women's cricket. It is probably going to be a 40-over tournament with eight top clubs participating," said PV Shetty, joint secretary of Mumbai Cricket Association.
"There are not many tournaments for women. And, we have just one inter-school tournament. To give importance to women's cricket and encourage it, we are going to get them involved in club culture. Our president Sharad Pawar backs women's cricket big time. Even the new BCCI president Shashank Manohar is a keen promoter of women's cricket," Shetty added.
The initiative was taken in the Cricket Improvement Committee meeting a couple of months ago and was immediately agreed upon by the managing committee. "We have a slot in March, hence that could be the time we might host it. We have decided the eight teams. We have chosen teams that promote the game big time in the city like Sainath CC, Payyade SC, DY Patil CC, Shivaji Park Gymkhana, Karnataka Sporting Association and Sind CC besides others. We will see that all the areas of Mumbai is covered," he added.
If needed, will MCA increase the number of teams in the future? "We will first see how it goes. There are around 200-250 women who play serious cricket. If there are more players taking interest, we will definitely increase the number of teams."
Shetty, however, felt the only way women's cricket would grow was if they start getting jobs. "There are not many woman cricketers because there is no job prospect. Railways is the only organisation that offers jobs. Parents don't let them play if there is no job. We would also like to create job opportunities for them by talking to corporates and introducing inter-office tournament," said Shetty.
Former Mumbai player and chief selector of Mumbai U-19, Kalpana Murkar, welcomed the move. "This will be a good opportunity for youngsters. At the junior level, there is an inter-school tournament which is yet to be held this season. Even the inter-college tournament is yet to take place. We used to have a club tournament under Bombay Women's Cricket Association when women's cricket was not merged with BCCI. However, this opportunity will be fantastic," added Murkar, who is also legendary Dronacharya award-winning coach Ramakant Achrekar's daughter.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}