The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) always had apprehensions towards women’s cricket and their preference for men’s cricket is nothing new. However, this time around, the Sourav Ganguly-led body has crossed the line for not treating its men and women players in the same way.
If reports are true, the Indian Men’s team will depart to England to play the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final and a five-match series to be followed, by a charter flight. The Men’s team is scheduled to depart on June 02. Meanwhile, the women’s team who are due to play one Test and three ODIs and T20Is will not have charter services.
BCCI has arranged commercial travel to its women players who are slated to depart in the first week of June. According to sources, BCCI will pick its Men players excluding those from Mumbai via charter plane, and then ask them to quarantine at the team hotel from Wednesday. However, there is not yet an official word from BCCI as to how it would arrange travel for women players. It seems likely that the BCCI would most probably tell its women players and coaching staff to take the commercial route.
BCCI not treating men cricketers and women’s cricketers in same fashion
Meanwhile, this is not the first time, BCCI has come under the scanner for treating women cricketers and women cricket lightly. During the COVID-19 pandemic BCCI was mulling over the idea of conducting the IPL in UAE but there was no concrete news on the Women’s T20 Challenge taking place. After much speculation, Sourav Ganguly BCCI president finally decided to conduct the IPL with only three teams participating. Initially, the BCCI officials planned to include the fourth team but the idea was scrapped.
Also in 2020, Indian women were all set to tour England, but surprisingly the BCCI pulled out at the last moment stating it was not sure about the England board’s bio-bubble approach. Later on, England had to call West Indies women for a five-match T20I series, which was successfully played out in the bio-bubble environment.
Moreover, as per reports, BCCI has arranged COVID-19 testing for their male cricketers at their doorsteps. On the other hand, women cricketers have been asked to conduct their tests themselves.
Equal right for women cricketers is, by definition, right.
Not privilege. https://t.co/GEeXLx4GMl
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) May 18, 2021
It pains me to say this, because I was a Ganguly fan, but if things don't change the way BCCI is managing things, specially with respect to Women's Cricket, people may remember Ganguly the BCCI president more than Ganguly the India Cricketer/Captain. And it won't end well for him
— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) May 18, 2021
Another thing- I guese, women cricketers were asked to take coronavirus test by themselves.
— Krithika (@krithika0808) May 18, 2021
Misogynistic board.That's been their trademark through out.Having a former player at the top hasn't helped.
— Deepti🏏| 🇮🇳 (@deeptiraonayak) May 18, 2021
These are decided on the basis of @SGanguly99 and @JayShah 's firm belief that their mothers, sisters, wives and daughters are inferior beings.
— Nachiketa Guha 🇮🇳 (@BrandNachiketa) May 18, 2021
Those who are saying that men deserve chartered flights because of the revenue they generate lmao. Corona doesn't see that. Bcci has a moral responsibility for both the men and the women. And this is an absolutely redundant excuse.
— Priyangshu (@PriyangshuG) May 18, 2021
