Thailand Board President demands ODI status for their Women’s Team

The 8 strong teams of women’s cricket competed for the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup title in a month-long tournament that concluded last Sunday. Though we saw some thrilling displays of performances the question of whether they were actually the best 8 teams that was raised when the World Cup qualifiers were called off due to the emergence of the new Covid-19 variant Omicron still ponders.

 

 

The cancellation of Qualifiers made way for West Indies, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to the big tournament based on their ODI ranking. However, the team from Thailand that performed brilliantly during the qualifiers and had a good chance of qualifying had the qualifiers were not called off was left behind just because they do not have ODI status.

The President of the Cricket Association of Thailand, Ravi Sehgal even petitioned the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the board directors last December in regard to this, demanding an ODI status for Thailand. The discussion for which is expected to be held in ICC meetings to be held in Dubai, April 7 onwards as reported by ESPNcricinfo.

Thailand board president demands ODI status for their women’s team.

Source: ESPN Cricinfo pic.twitter.com/4pxiwKMIes

— Female Cricket #CWC22 (@imfemalecricket) April 7, 2022

It was a heart-breaking moment for the girls who gave their best in the 3 matches they got to play in the Qualifiers, leading their group after winning three out of four games they played, beating ODI ranked 5th Bangladesh, the host New Zealand and the USA.

 

 

Their determination to make it to the World Cup this year was such that they kept an image of the World Cup trophy as their phone’s wallpaper, a combined photo of which was shared by Natthakan Chatham on her Twitter handle after the distressing news.

💔💔❤️‍🩹 pic.twitter.com/Xho22YBaYl

— Natthakan Chantham (@NatthakanJeans) November 27, 2021

Commenting on the same in a conversation with ESPNcricinfo, Sehgal said,

“The players were so disappointed,”

We should have been given a fair chance to qualify. We couldn’t qualify for the World Cup because we don’t have an ODI ranking as we have never had ODI status.

“We have worked very hard to get our standard to this point with entirely ethnic Thai players. But we still need help.” he added

Supporting Sehgal’s statement, Sumod Damodar, who is an Associate Member representative on the Chief Executives’ Committee called the issues as Important as those who deserve ODI status, should have it.

Further adding, “What happened to Thailand was disappointing. Did Thailand merit better treatment? Yes. They beat two Full Members. They should at least be given special dispensation to get ODI status.”

It was not just a loss for a World Cup spot for Thailand, they missed out on qualification for ICC Women’s Championship 2022-2025 as well something that would have definitely given them more occasions to showcase their potential and prove their existence in the sport.

“We receive only a little bit of government funding, “Our competitions are funded by local governments. We are low on local priority because there is little commercial value for cricket in Thailand.” Sehgal said in the same report.

Though they were not able to make it to the 2022 World Cup, team Thailand won hearts. Their performance was unbelievable and hope they continue to play the same way as they compete in the qualification tournament for the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup soon.

“We will do what we can to keep going and get better through our own means,”

“We can’t stop this momentum now.” Sehgal concluded

Source: Tristan Lavalette / ESPN Cricinfo