Former women cricketers of Kerala have come together for the welfare of themselves. They have formed an organization that will ensure the welfare of less fortunate women cricketers as well as will promote them.
Currently, only 18 women cricketers from the state are part of the India Cricket Association (ICA). There are many female cricketers from the state who are not supported by the ICA, and the Veteran Women’s Cricket Association of Kerala aims to help them.
Veteran women cricketers such as Vidya Chandran, Hemalatha, Rema S, Geetha Rao, Sreekala S R, Deepa K, Binu Thankan and Prabha Alice Varkey were present during the launch of the association in Kochi on Saturday. The association will focus on players who represented Kerala from 1975 to 2016.
The association will also conduct matches against teams of neighboring states for the former cricketers. They are also planning to open a cricket academy.
The first welfare activity was conducted by the association when they helped a former cricketer to meet her medical expenses. A remembrance meeting was also held for late Shabina Jacob. The Association will also conduct a tournament for veteran women cricketers in her memory in April next year.
As reported by the New Indian Express, president of the association Sreekala S R defined the objectives of the association. “The objective of the Association is to bring ex-women cricketers of Kerala under one body for their welfare. Many players who did not play for the senior state team are left out of the welfare measures of the cricket bodies,” she said.
“As of now only 18 women cricketers from the state are eligible to be part of the Indian Cricket Association or ICA. As per its criteria, those who have played for a minimum of five years for senior state matches are eligible. There are many women players who do not meet this criterion. Our aim is to support them,” she added.
The former state captain also highlighted the important roles and opportunities that veteran cricketers can make use of. “There are many opportunities in the field now. Veteran cricketers can contribute in many ways including as coaches, umpires, match referees and scorers,” Sreekala pointed out.
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