Saurav Ganguly is rightly remembered as the finest Indian captain over the last 35 years. He helped build the team and instill the much needed courage. He ensured that winning outside of home is top priority and that he wanted India to be judged fairly because of their performance. However, the same cannot be said about Ganguly the BCCI president. This is because of his latest rants. Saurav Ganguly comes across as silly.
Ever since Ganguly became the president, he is not short of time for a quote or two to the media. Off late, there are reports that he is present even during the selection meeting. This is not part of his job description. Be that in predicting that India will win the 2021 T20 World Cup or that India will make history in South Africa, he always gets his fingers burned. Yet, that hasn’t stopped him from making public appearances. The latest in this list is that he has stated that Women’s IPL will become a reality once the number of women players in the country increases. This coming from the current board president is unacceptable. It is the BCCI who is responsible to both men’s and women’s cricket and hence, it is their responsibility to increase the player pool.
Admirable performance
Despite the severe shortcomings, the Indian women players have performed admirably well. They came within a whisker of winning the 2017 WC and last year, they played exceptionally well to draw the only test against England. Later, they stopped the Australia juggernaut and won a ODI. These are impressive performances. These are comparable to the men in the 1980s. Yet, BCCI does not have time for them. Let us also remember that BCCI was the last cricketing body to merge both men’s and women’s cricket. It is a mandate laid out by the IOC. Every other board did that early whereas BCCI waited till the very last few days. That shows the scant regard Ganguly and BCCI have for women in this country.
In a country of over a billion, it is quite easy to find a group of 250 players. Ganguly’s comment that there aren’t enough players does not merit. Shefali Vaidya, Kaur are some of the young women players who are making the world turns their heads in disbelief through their sheer talent.
Jemima Rodrigues pleads BCCI to have a WIPL without any coverage. It is almost like begging. She wants the board to run an IPL for women without it being televised at all if the BCCI thinks that the tournament will not find any sponsor. With the riches at the disposal of the board, they can easily afford to do this.
WIPL is mandatory
There are so many women who would like to represent the country and as a way to thanking them, WIPL is mandatory. Let us also remember the fact that till a few decades ago, when it comes to sports and India winning medals at the international events, it has always been the women. PT Usha, Walasamma, Shiny Abraham, Sindhu, Saina and so many others. Back in the 1980s, if India wins 5 medals at the Asian Games, all the 5 medals were won by Usha. This in a country that still follow the patriarchy. It clearly shows that if given an option, India women can even outstrip their men counterparts by a mile.
Conclusion to Saurav Ganguly comes across as silly
Ganguly was asked during a Bengali talkshow how would he encourage his daughter if she aspired to play cricket for the country. Pat came Ganguly’s reply “I would ask her not to because she is a woman.”
What more needs to be said? Here is the board president who is least bothered about women’s game in the country. It is utter impossible to be more dismissive than this.