At these times of pandemic, the big stars with big contracts escape the hardships in some style. The lesser-known faces who play on a regional or domestic scale have to face a variety of difficulties. Stories have now risen from Vadodara.
The team that made the region proud by making it to the senior women’s national cricket tournament four years ago is now suffering a question mark on their livelihoods. Baroda Cricket Association has been in the news for its appointments and removals relating to key positions in the women’s side.
The association had, however, appreciated the women’s team for its achievement in the year 2016. It is till now that the women have not received the prize money which was announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India or the apex governing body of the country. While the members of the senior women team have been waiting for the prize money, there have been no words from BCA.
A senior cricketer added that “The BCCI had announced Rs 10,000 prize money per player for the finalists in that tournament. We were told that the prize will be given once the BCCI sends it to the BCA. We have been waiting for four seasons but the prize money has not been given to us”.
It has to be noted that Baroda had faced Madhya Pradesh in the finals of the one-day cricket tournament at Himachal Pradesh in the 2015-16 season where they ended as runner-ups. The officials from Baroda Cricket Association have agreed on the reports. Ajit Lele said that “The prize money is to come from BCCI but it has not arrived yet. We are expecting to get the money within a month following which we will give to the women cricketers”.
On being asked about the reason behind the long delay, Secretary of BCA, Ajit Lele said that the Lodha committee reforms have played a part in the delay in payments from BCCI’s end. It is interesting to find that no such shortfalls have been recorded in men’s cricket and the organizing of lavish leagues are on.
For women’s cricket, the delays have been accounted to the pandemic and the Lodha committee seems to be the new excuse for the inefficiency of the administrators. These shortcomings, nonetheless, affect the most vulnerable lot and has negative repercussions for the game.
A student who enjoys studying cricket more than anything else, keen to learn the insights of the women’s game.
