BCCI needs to be more specific about women’s cricket: Anjum Chopra

After the recent saga that has been going on with the Indian team, former skipper Anjum Chopra feels that despite being serious with women’s cricket, the board should communicate ideas more specifically. “It’s not that the BCCI is not thinking about women’s cricket. I only think they need to be more specific in communication about women’s cricket,” Chopra told PTI.

“I firmly believe that they must be thinking about women’s cricket but the communication all this while has been very specific to men’s cricket.” The BCCI received a backlash after it cancelled the England tour in September owing to logistical issues arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic and allowing the IPL to happen UAE.

However, on August 2, it was announced that a three-team Women’s T20 Challenge will take place in UAE during the men’s play-offs and series against South Africa and West Indies. The national camp will also happen in the month of September.

Chopra stated that it was ‘not nice’ but Indian players’ participation in the women’s IPL, in November, will still be useful preparation for next year’s ODI World Cup. “It is heartening to see women’s cricket making headlines. They should have been a part of that England tour and it did not feel nice initially but the women’s IPL, irrespective of the format, will be helpful for World Cup preparations. Any form of cricket is good preparation,” Chopra said.

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“Missing out on a tournament is not nice, but logistically there may have been issues. And you can’t send an under-prepared team,” added Chopra, who is a successful commentator currently. “If you see in isolation we may have missed out on an opportunity to play in England. The more the girls play the better it is, before playing a tournament of the stature of the World Cup. The assurance from the president is a very good thing.”

The 43-year-old is happy that women’s cricket will finally be played anywhere in the world. “I am definitely happy, it’s always nice to be part of any cricket anywhere across the world. They should have been nearing the final stages of the preparation for the World Cup by now, but because of the pandemic things did not go as planned,” she added.

Chopra, who had a long career of 17 years, during which she played in six World Cups, also feels that the COVID-19 pandemic wouldn’t have much impact on the women’s game that has gained momentum in recent times.

“...Cricket was on pause button...Once cricket resumes and players are back in the park, everything is going to get picked up. It might take some time to get started as everything starts from zero... The awareness the women’s game has created, I hope it stays. They will just restart, not start after the pandemic,” she concluded.