womens cricket asia cup 2005

sadhuji

The news on TV announcing the holding of the next Asia Cup in late 2007 occupied a prime position last evening. Unfortunately, there was no mention of the Indian women’s cricket team that lifted the Asia Cup 2005 by a convincing margin to defend the title they won in 2003 successfully.

The Indian maidens won the toss and set up a score of 269 for 4 in the allotted 50 overs. The Sri Lankans fell short by 97 runs. Mithali Raj top scored for India with 108 not out and was declared the woman of the match. There were three countries involved – India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. More details can be had in the website ‘Women’s cricket on the web’ - http://www.webbsoc.demon.co.uk/

These women in blue have given consistent account of themselves for quite some time now but it is unfortunate that the team has not been abler to locate any sponsor other than Sahara. We have had male cricketers in advertisements to promote a range of products that suit their ways of life. There was the suave Sunny Gavaskar who had nice words to say for a certain brand of suiting after hitting someone’s ice cream cone for a sixer. Kapil Dev ruled the roost for a while with his unique style of Punjabi English to talk on the positive aspects of clean shaves apart from drinks that make you stronger. Sachin Tendulkar had reserved his slot for the cold drinks meant for people who keep wanting more and more until a Pied Piper with a horde of maidens edged him out.

Would it not have been in the fitness of things to consider inducting into the fold a few of the women in blue who continue to bring laurels to the country? Being women, they possess a certain amount of charm; bringing them center stage will boost their morale. They will know that their countrymen care for them. That itself will act as an incentive and encourage them to strive for excellence in their irrespective fields. By the way – has anyone written any book on the women cricketers of India?

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