Pandemic has affected counties in a variety of ways. Sporting activities have taken a hit too. Cricketers and others likely have suffered a pause for an unprecedented duration. Men’s cricket has somehow managed to walk away with the lockdown as the English side is facing its second opposition amidst the pandemic.
The grand event of the Indian Premier League has shifted to the United Arab Emirates. Women, on the other hand, have only seen camps and media releases stating that qualifiers and world cup has been postponed. This makes it necessary that boards and authorities place a greater emphasis on female cricketers as the revival of cricket is primarily focused on the male aspect of things as of now.
We, at female cricket, have reported that Pakistan has been one of the few exceptions in these testing times. The recent reports add more strength to our statement as the Pakistan Cricket Board has decided to provide 25 national cricketers with stipends to assist them to face the hardships as brought by unexpected lockdown and pandemic.
PCB Announces Monthly Stipend To 25 Unemployed Women Cricketers. Great move @TheRealPCB pic.twitter.com/6nSjxyXJ1G
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) August 7, 2020
Moreover, as per the reports, 25 thousand PKR is to handed to players from the current month i.e. August to October. We reported, in June, that the apex cricketing body of Pakistan went against the breeze and gave fresh and more fruitful contracts to its players. The pay was increased alongside the introduction of a new contract for youngers’ faces. Match fees for domestic matches were increased significantly too.
Urooj Mumtaz, one of the most known faces of women’s cricket administration, said that “The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a halt to all women cricketing activities worldwide. This has adversely affected our women cricketers, some of whom are the sole breadwinners of their families”.
She further added that: “As the women’s game is making steady progress, it was imperative that the PCB came up with this scheme to not only protect and support our players but to also make them understand and realize that the PCB values them and will look after them in difficult times. I am grateful to my team as well as the PCB Chairman and Chief Executive who acknowledged the issue and made a decision which will go a long way in our endeavors to promote, develop and grow women’s cricket in Pakistan”.
It is interesting to note that PCB, in May, went ahead and supported the livelihoods of 161 individuals who were associated with the game but had an adverse effect on their lives due to the nationwide lockdown. These efforts are, without a doubt, precedence for bigger boards to follow.
A student who enjoys studying cricket more than anything else, keen to learn the insights of the women’s game.