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“The India contracted players don’t know when they’re playing next, that’s a massive concern”

Sruthi Ravindranath20-Nov-2020Lisa Sthalekar feels the BCCI should have launched a full-fledged IPL-style women’s league “probably yesterday”. While the Indian board has been heading in the “right direction” vis-à-vis women’s cricket, it has been “quite slow” to move on a women’s IPL, Sthalekar stressed, and “the fact that the India contracted players don’t know when they’re playing next, that’s a massive concern”.”The reason why Australian cricket has been going so well in the women’s game is because we’ve invested in it.” Sthalekar, former Australia captain and commentator, said during a digital workshop about women in news and sport. “I still remember the first year we [Women’s Big Bash League] went to eight teams. We had only six teams in state cricket so we extended it by two.”ALSO READ: What’s next for India women?Much of the BCCI’s reluctance to roll out an IPL-style women’s league has historically been down to the perceived lack of depth in the domestic pool of players. While the WBBL, currently is in its sixth season, has gone from strength to strength and assumed standalone status last year, the Indian board is yet to expand the Women’s T20 Challenge (WT20C), which began in 2018 as a one-off exhibition match and has since involved three teams contesting in a total of four games.”I heard the argument in India that we don’t have the depth – we [Australia] didn’t think we had the depth at that time. Maybe things were a bit weaker to start with. Now look what’s happening. More and more girls pick up bat and the ball. We’re seeing quality teams where we’re already in the 42nd match of the season and we don’t know who’s going to make the final. It says that you [have] got to take a bit of a gamble but when is the right time to do anything? Probably yesterday.”The Indian women’s team, meanwhile, was expected to ride the wave of increased interest and viewership in the wake of a runners-up finish at the T20 World Cup in Australia earlier this year, and a four-team WT20C seemed to be on the cards. But the Covid-19 pandemic not only put paid to those plans, it led to cancellation of several bilateral series. As such, India have not played any international cricket since the T20 World Cup final against Australia on March 8 and could next take the field only early next year, if the proposed tour of Australia goes ahead.”I think they (BCCI) are moving in the right direction but everyone’s quite slow to actually form women’s IPL, to provide enough matches,” Sthalekar said. “I know the pandemic and what the situation is like in India, but the fact that the India contracted players don’t know when they’re playing next, that’s a massive concern. They’ve just played a T20 World Cup final. They’re going to fall behind. I feel they’re the biggest untapped market and if they get it right the Indian women are going to dominate.”Innovations at the BBL – ‘I’m not a fan’
The latest Big Bash League innovations – Power Surge, X-Factor and Bash Boost – have divided opinion sharply, and Sthalekar was clear that she was “not a fan” of them, and highlighted that the women’s game did not need any such innovations.”I don’t think we need to be so innovative. I’ve just come back from the IPL [after a commentary stint]. We had a double-Super Over, we had a weekend full of Super Overs. I mean, you’re going to get one-sided affairs every now and then. The T20 game was to purely bring in a new audience, predominantly younger families and females, let’s be honest. Now you’re bringing in all these rules. Why are we making it more complicated than what it needs to be? I’m not a fan,” she argued. “As for the WBBL, we’re starting to see big enough scores. As long as the pitches and the decks have pace and bounce, we are going to see decent scores.”The Women’s T20 challenge, unfortunately it was a short turnaround and had low, slow wickets, hardly those girls training and it wasn’t the best advertisement for the game. I think in the WBBL, we’ve got it right. We can probably change rules slightly but they won’t change it because they keep the rules similar to international cricket, which I think is the right thing to do.”Why can’t we talk about Kimmince and Harris?
At ESPNcricinfo, we have been discussing the subject of same-sex relationships in cricket, and the fact that women cricketers have traditionally been more comfortable coming out when compared to their male counterparts. Sthalekar stressed that the conversation around homosexuality needed to be normalised within the sport, much more than has been the case.”There certainly seems to be more acceptance in women’s sport to be comfortable sharing that. Again, I think Australia’s leading the way. There’s still a lot of work that needs to be done around the world. It needs to be seen as okay,” she said. “If you watch the coverage, we don’t make a big deal out of it. It is what it is, and we just move on.”We talk about it because if we’re going to talk about Alyssa Healy and Mitchell Starc why can’t we talk about Delissa Kimmince and Laura Harris? It should be part of the normal conversation.”

On Monday, the interim committee running ZC had issued a statement instructing all employees, other than those suspended, to report for work or face consequences

Liam Brickhill30-Jul-2019The war of words between the interim committee running Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) and the ousted board has continued apace, and the divisions in the country’s cricket community are widening.On Monday, the interim committee running Zimbabwe Cricket issued a statement instructing all employees, apart from the board originally
suspended by the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) last month, to report for work on Thursday or face “legal” and “disciplinary consequences”. Their statement appeared to be directed mainly at the administrative and logistical staff.On Tuesday, ZC struck back with a statement of their own, calling the interim committee’s release “condescending, reckless and inappropriate” and denying the legitimacy of the committee.While Zimbabwe’s contracted cricketers are also ZC employees and included in the committee’s initial directive, the national men’s squad is not actually in training at the moment and it is the domestic off-season. The women’s side, meanwhile, are currently in training, clinging to their hopes of making it to the Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers in Scotland at the end of August. Their team manager has said they have not heard from the interim committee.This is not the first time that the SRC and the interim committee have tried to get ZC employees back to work. They had initially hoped for employees unaffected by the SRC’s sanctioning of Tavengwa Mukuhlani’s board to return to work by the end of June, but when this did not happen, SRC chairman Gerald Mlotshwa accused Mukuhlani of “sabotage” and of orchestrating the stay-away. Since then, ZC’s offices have remained empty, although a few press releases reflecting the standpoint of the ousted board have been issued through the usual channels.The interim committee’s statement marked their first official public communication. It called the releases that have been issued through ZC’s channels “fraudulent”, unless they bore the signature of interim managing director Vince Hogg, or that of Dave Ellman-Brown, the interim committee’s chairman.”Employees and the public are advised to ignore fraudulent press releases purporting to emanate from Zimbabwe Cricket,” the committee’s statement read. “No such press release has any legal authority unless it bears the undersigned’s signature or the Signature of Chairman of the Interim Committee.”ZC’s response held little back. “We would like to make it very clear to Mr Hogg and the interim committee that appointed him that no amount of threats will cow us into submitting to an administration without legitimacy,” read ZC’s statement.”Our position is clearly informed by the fact that the International Cricket Council (ICC), the supreme custodian of the game of cricket, does not recognise the interim committee,” ZC’s statement continued, going on to emphasize the ICC’s directive to reinstate Mukuhlani’s board if Zimbabwe want the suspension to be lifted.”In the meantime, as players and staff we refuse to be used as pawns in the interim committee’s power grab scheme,” concluded the ZC statement which had ostensibly been drawn up during a “consultative meeting” between players and ZC staff in Harare on Tuesday.Yet it seems that the playing body at large is not fully united behind the board in their battle against the interim committee and the SRC. Most players are seeking not to get drawn into either side’s corner and simply want to be allowed to play cricket again.ESPNcricinfo spoke to several Zimbabwean cricketers on Tuesday evening, most of whom did not attend any meeting – or even invited – and weren’t consulted before ZC’s statement was released. Many did not back ZC’s statement attacking the interim committee, but some did. One invited player who said they couldn’t attend, but did agree with the sentiments of ZC’s statement. Some simply did not respond to requests for comment, even on condition of anonymity.There are clearly strong differences of opinion forming and while battle lines continue to be drawn and the stalemate between ZC and the interim committee continues, the collateral damage is mounting up.Four members of the women’s side have been stopped from taking part in the Global Development Squad fixtures, and Zimbabwe’s participation in either of the T20 World Cup Qualifiers hangs by the thinnest of threads – indeed, under suspension they simply cannot take part.Furthermore, Langton Rusere, who last year made history when he became the first Zimbabwean umpire to stand in the final of a major global cricket tournament at the Women’s World T20 final has now been barred from officiating during the upcoming West Indies v India series, having originally been part of the umpiring panel.

Joe Weatherley scored his maiden first-class century on the final day at Old Trafford to ensure a draw

ECB Reporters Network28-Jun-2018
ScorecardDivision One strugglers Lancashire and Hampshire played out a high-scoring County Championship draw at Old Trafford, with both now facing the prospect of a relegation fight later this summer.The players shook hands at 4.50pm to confirm the result when the visitors declared on 237 for 5 in their second innings, leading by 277.Opener Joe Weatherley’s unbeaten 126 off 260 balls, which saw him bat through the whole day, represented his maiden first-class hundred.This draw means that both sides leapfrog Yorkshire to leave them second bottom in Division One after they suffered a seven-wicket defeat to leaders Surrey at Scarborough.Yorkshire are four points behind Hampshire and three behind Lancashire, but they have only played seven and have a game in hand on both.At the start of the final day here, James Vince’s side resumed on 66 for 2 – a lead of 106.An attritional morning saw Hampshire add only 69 as bowlers continued to work hard. Allrounder Jordan Clark made the breakthrough in the 12th over of the day when Sam Northeast was bowled for 10.Lancashire had an early lbw decision against Weatherley adjudged not out. In all, he batted for six and a quarter hours, with Hampshire’s second innings starting late on day three.This was his second century for the county, with his first coming against Kent in the Royal London Cup. The 21-year-old had scored three first-class fifties heading into this game, including one against Surrey two rounds ago.After tea, Weatherley and Ian Holland (26 not out) batted through, sharing an unbroken 73 for the sixth wicket to advance from 164 for 5 following the departure of Rilee Rossouw.Lancashire have another relegation battle next up when they welcome Yorkshire to Old Trafford at the end of July for the first of two vital Roses clashes.That will be their final Championship match at the venue this season as the club will be relaying the outfield ahead of next year’s World Cup and the Ashes Test.With the Vitality Blast on the horizon, Hampshire will have to wait until August 19 to play Championship cricket again when they will take on Nottinghamshire at home.For now, though, their attention will turn towards Lord’s when they will welcome back Dale Steyn, who was rested from this fixture.Liam Dawson will also be back amidst his stint with the England Lions, for whom he taken eight wickets in three one-day matches against the A teams of India and the West Indies over the last week.

ESPNcricinfo understands the ICC’s settlement offer of an additional $100 million to the BCCI is still on the table

Nagraj Gollapudi27-Apr-2017The door has not yet been completely shut on the BCCI as far as the ICC’s finance model is concerned. ESPNcricinfo understands that immediately after the BCCI was outvoted at the ICC Board meeting on Wednesday, the ICC chairman Shashank Manohar informed Amitabh Choudhury, the BCCI secretary, that the settlement offer of an additional $100 million was still on the table.Under the new finance model, the BCCI stands to receive $293 million from the ICC revenue across an eight-year cycle. The BCCI had wanted $570 million – the share it would have received under the previous Big Three finance model – but Manohar had made a counter offer of an additional $100 million over the $293 million to raise the Indian board’s share to nearly $400 million.On Wednesday, the ICC board read the letter submitted by Choudhury on the mandate given to him by the BCCI and rejected his proposal.How did the BCCI lose?
Hours before before the ICC Board met, Choudhury and BCCI CEO Rahul Johri conducted discussions with heads of various boards such as the ECB, Cricket Australia, the WICB, Associates representative Imran Khawaja, and Manohar.It is understood that both BCCI representatives wanted to try and find a “middle path” on the finance model. The idea was to get as close to the $445 million figure the Committee of Administrators (CoA, appointed by Supreme Court of India to supervise the BCCI) had asked Manohar for in March.There was then a separate meeting between Choudhury and three members of the ICC working group, which had drafted the new constitution. Manohar, ECB president Giles Clarke and CA chairman David Peever once again placed the offer of an additional $100 million to Choudhury.ICC chairman Shashank Manohar (right), ECB chairman Giles Clarke (left) and CA chairman David Peever once again offered the BCCI a settlement•Getty Images

“Earlier the offer had been made by Manohar, but this was a formal offer from the ICC working group. He [Choudhury] turned it down,” an official said. “He was told that in that case the original proposal had already been approved in February and we can’t change that. Hence the ICC model went through.”With Choudhury refusing to enter a discussion on the settlement deal, the ICC working group was left with no choice but to ask for a show of hands. The BCCI was taken aback when Full Members whom it understood to be in its corner swayed to the ICC side. The BCB, Zimbabwe Cricket and the WICB have been BCCI allies for a long time, but on Wednesday they voted against it. The case of the BCB and ZC was surprising only because both had submitted strong reservations at the outset of the ICC Board meeting. ZC even called the draft constitution “discriminatory.”The official said one main reason behind these three boards changing stance was the ICC’s decision to provide them financial help. It is understood ZC could be given $19 million to clear its debt while the WICB had asked for $40 million as a grant.What now for the BCCI?
A ray of hope still exists, considering Manohar wants the BCCI to be happy. A source who has worked closely with Manohar since he arrived at the ICC last year said he has no “desire to alienate” the BCCI. He has asked the ICC to continue engaging with the BCCI.The other reason for the BCCI remaining optimistic was a significant decision the ICC Board agreed on: to move the finance model out of the constitution. The BCCI feels there is still some room for manoeuvre.The working group will meet once again during the ICC’s annual conference in June to approve the final changes to the constitution, governance structure and finance model – all of which would be finally ratified by the ICC Board. “All the boards want this resolved also,” the official said. “What happened yesterday does not mean India has diminished.”Choudhury told the ICC that he would need to head back to the BCCI, which will take a final decision at a special general body meeting (SGM).The official said India still had the bargaining power because of its importance in bilateral cricket. He pointed out that the ICC might need to increase its settlement offer and “go beyond” the proposed $100 million.”There are two ways of resolving this now. One is the SGM says okay, 390 is good. Let us go ahead. The ICC will agree immediately and resolve it. Or [the SGM] says we need more time. Then there will be another round of negotiations [with the ICC].”However, the scope of any further negotiations, the source pointed out, were remote. “He [Manohar] would still want to negotiate with the BCCI, but would he take it beyond $390 million? Questionable.”One other interested party, which could play the catalyst, is the CoA. It has been keeping a close watch on the events in Dubai this week. Any decision taken by the BCCI office bearers would need to be conveyed to the CoA, which would need to approve anything that is sent in writing to the ICC as per the court order. “The CoA can step in, but it will only step in also at $445 million,” the official said.

A round-up of the WICB Regional 4 Day Tournament games that ended on March 20, 2016

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Mar-2016
ScorecardGuyana defended their title with an innings victory over Jamaica•WICB Media

Guyana beat Jamaica by an innings and 55 runs in Providence to claim the WICB Regional 4-Day Tournament trophy for the second season in a row. Their title-defending victory was built around Under-19 World-Cup winning captain Shimron Hetmyer, and spinners Gudakesh Motie and Veerasammy Permaul.They had begun the game seven points clear of second-placed Barbados, and given the latter’s strong showing on day one of the round against Leeward Islands, Guyana could not afford to fall behind from the outset. They did not, courtesy a solid top-order showing from Hetmyer, Rajendra Chandrika and Leon Johnson. Opener Chandrika made 76, Hetmyer 107 from No. 3 and tournament top-scorer Johnson 93 from No. 4. That laid the platform for a big first-innings total, and so it was, with Guyana getting to 420, despite a five-for from legspinner Damion Jacobs.Spin played a more incisive role thereon, though, with left-arm spinner Motie taking charge in Jamaica’s first innings, claiming 4 for 55 to help enforce the follow-on. The supporting acts were Permaul and Devendra Bishoo, who took three wickets between them. Needing to make another 190 to force Guyana to bat again, Jamaica fell away even more rapidly to spin the second time round. This time it was Permaul in the lead role, taking 5 for 36 on his way to 40 in the competition – joint-fourth highest with Motie. Bishoo chipped in with three wickets as well, as Jamaica were routed for 134.
ScorecardBarbados began the final round needing to win to have a chance of toppling Guyana at the top of the table, and they did everything they had to do. But Guyana did the same, and so Barbados finished second despite their commanding innings-and-93-run win against Leeward Islands in Basseterre.Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican was central to the victory, with a match haul of nine. He picked up three wickets in a team effort on day one to knock Leewards over for 119, an effort in which none of the hosts’ batsmen could get to a half-century. Barbados got to 436 in reply, built around middle-order fifties from Shane Dowrich (96) and Roston Chase (62), followed by a rapid 53 from No. 9 Kemar Roach. Offspinner Rahkeem Cornwall, who had taken the new ball for Leewards, finished with five-for in a marathon 47.3 overs.Captain Orlando Peters was the only half-centurion for Leewards in the second innings, hitting 60 before becoming one of Warrican’s six victims. A massive victory was duly wrapped up by Barbados with a day and an innings to spare, but it would not have tasted as sweet given the news coming through from Providence.
ScorecardAt the National Cricket Centre in Couva, Windward Islands picked up a seven-wicket win over Trinidad & Tobago. Despite collecting 17 points, however, Windwards finished just above laggards Leeward Islands, having won just two matches in the competition. Windwards finished with 58 points, and T&T, just above them with 74.Windwards’ bowlers hunted in a pack after T&T elected to bat. Larry Edwards, the left-arm spinner, led the way on first-class debut with figures of 4 for 77 as T&T were bundled out for 211. That T&T got to 211 was courtesy Narsingh Deonarine, who remained unbeaten on 91. Kyle Hope (28) got off to a start but couldn’t make it count, while Imran Khan chipped in with a handy 39 down the order.Imran, the legspinner, came good with the ball, too, taking 4 for 93, before adding another one to his tally in Windwards’ second innings to finish the tournament with 44 wickets – third on the bowling charts. Imran’s efforts couldn’t prevent Windwards from taking a 78-run first-innings lead, however. Devon Smith, the tournament’s second-highest scorer with 719 runs from eight games, struck his second century in as many games and put on 163 for the opening wicket with Tyrone Theophile (75). Imran, along with Jon-Russ Jaggesar and Rayad Emrit, the new-ball bowlers, who picked up three wickets each, fought back as Windwards were bowled out for 289.Kyle Hope, the T&T opener, and captain Yannick Ottley struck half-centuries in their second innings, while Imran once again came good with the bat, scoring 46. But offspinner Liam Sebastien’s 10th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket kept T&T to 243.Set a target of 166, Windwards were reduced to 68 for 3 before Theophile and Sunil Ambris, the wicketkeeper-batsman, combined for an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 101 to see them through. Theophile was unbeaten on 83, while Ambris finished on 54 not out.