Former BCCI chief Vinod Rai has made some sensational revelations about Indian cricket in his new book ‘Not Just A Nightwatchman’. Vinod served as the head of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators of the BCCI. His 33-months stint lasted between 2017 and 2019.

Vinod confessed that he regrets not paying enough attention to Women’s cricket during his tenure. He revealed that the Indian team ate ‘Samosas’ in the morning of the Semi-final against Australia in 2017 World Cup, due to unavailability of proper food.

Speaking to the ‘The Week’ about his book, Vinod said, “My regret was that I had not given due attention to women’s cricket till the match in which Harmanpreet [Kaur] scored 171* in the 2017 Women’s World Cup [against Australia]. She told me: “Sir, I was cramping so I had to hit sixes as I could not run much!” They were told at the hotel that they could not get the food they were supposed to, so they had samosas for breakfast that morning!”

It should be noted that India had a great campaign in 2017 WC as they finished runners-up. Brilliance from England bowler Anya Shrubsole in the last moments of the final had stopped the Indian girls from lifting the trophy.

Men’s uniforms were being cut up and re-stitched for women’s players – Vinod Rai

Vinod also revealed that for the longest of times, jerseys of men’s cricketers were being cut-up and re-stitched for women cricketers to wear.

He said: “Women cricketers had not been taken seriously till about 2006, when Mr [Sharad] Pawar took the initiative to merge the men’s and women’s association. I was aghast to know that men’s uniforms were being cut up and re-stitched for women’s players. I had to ring up Nike and tell them that this was not on and that their design would be different.”

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