'2017 World Cup Was The Turning Point'

Former India captain and ex-BCCI administrator Diana Edulji on the many battles before women's cricket was incentivised

- By KATHAKALI CHANDA

Q India's ODI World Cup win is being touted as the 1983 moment for women's cricket.

I think the turning point in women's cricket came in 2017 when we played the finals at Lord's [in England]. That match was telecast live and it was a packed house at the stadium, known as the Mecca of cricket. A women's match drawing a full house and the hype that was built up for the final... unfortunately we missed out by nine runs. That was the turning point because everybody started taking notice of women's cricket after that.

And I was glad because I was a CoA member (the Committee of Administrators appointed by the Supreme Court for the BCCI). When the team entered the final, we announced a cash award of ₹50 lakh for each player, though it was objected to in the committee. They said what if they win? I said we'll double it. Add to that the prime minister calling the team for high tea at his residence, and the adulation they got, despite being the losing team. I think that is the moment when us and the BCCI realised that women's cricket is here to stay.

Q When did the changes start?

A lot of changes for women's cricket started with the merger between the BCCI and the Women's Cricket Association of India in 2006. Many state associations started taking interest, giving facilities to women and trying to bring them on a par with the men. When Jay Shah was the BCCI secretary, he brought about a lot of positive changes, like parity in match fees. Even as the ICC chairman now, he's made a big impact for women's cricket globally. The effort that the ICC is putting under his leadership, I think women's cricket will reach its pinnacle.

Q Before the BCCI started changing things around, stories of administrative apathy were abundant...