Sikkim Women Cricket Players Unhappy over BCCI’s non inclusion of three tournaments

Gangtok, August 27: Section of women cricket players in Sikkim have expressed their displeasure and resentment  on a non- inclusion of  women’s under 23 cricket and under 19 women’s tournament ( T-20)  by Board of Cricket Control over India (BCCI).  BCCI has released the Domestic Schedule of 2021-22 few days back.

Gangtok, August 27: Section of women cricket players in Sikkim have expressed their displeasure and resentment  on a non- inclusion of  women’s under 23 cricket and under 19 women’s tournament ( T-20)  by Board of Cricket Control over India (BCCI). 
BCCI has released the Domestic Schedule of 2021-22 few days back. 

Requesting anonymity, a woman player while speaking with Sikkim Chronicle said that the non-inclusion of under 23 women’s tournament has come as a surprise discouraging many women players in the state. 

“We did not expect this to happen. Every year two tournaments were being played in under 23 women category i.e. one day and T 20 matches.  Also under 19 – T20 ( women) Even in 2020 due to Covid 19 pandemic there was no women tournament for under 23 category” she added. 

In 2020-21 season the only tournaments conducted before lockdown were Senior Men’s: (One day and T20) and (Senior Women’s: One day). 

There are a total of Six BCCI Tournaments for women in the various categories namely -Senior women’s one day, Senior women’s T20, U-23 women’s one day, U-23 women’s T20, U-19 women’s one day and U-19 women’s T20. 

The players have also raised question on the alleged silence of Sikkim Cricket Association (SICA). 
“When so much is talked about equality in cricket, we are surprised on the silence of SICA. We want the association (SICA) to intervene and apprise BCCI on this as this kind of decision would not only discourage women cricketers but will also de motivate the upcoming players” added another woman cricketer. 

Currently, SICA has 173 registered women cricketers in Sikkim. The SICA women’s cricket team saw its first activity in the year 2007. 
Responding to an email sent by Sikkim Chronicle, SICA has said that SICA has already requested BCCI to consider the possible re-inclusion of U-23 Women’s Tournament.

“The BCCI is the sole authority that decides on matters relating to scheduling of its domestic fixture. SICA was ready for the U-23 women’s tournament and had already finished conducting its selection/trials and registration process.

It was only recently after the fixture was announced by BCCI that all the state associations were made privy to the non-inclusion of U-23 women’s cricket in the current list. SICA has always taken upon itself to promote women’s cricket in Sikkim and rest assured we trust BCCI will take all necessary steps given the current situation, particularly India’s ongoing fight against the pandemic” reads the email reply.