New Delhi: Following Indian women’s team historic World Cup triumph on Sunday, a controversial remark by former BCCI president N. Srinivasan has resurfaced, where he allegedly said former India captain Diana Edulji that he would “never let women’s cricket grow in India.”
At a 2017 event, after Harmanpreet Kaur smashed an outstanding 171 in the semifinal of the Women’s World Cup against Australia, Diana recalled her first intercation with Srinivasan after he was appointed as the BCCI president in 2011. She said, “When Mr. Srinivasan became president, I went to congratulate him at the Wankhede Stadium. He said, ‘If I had my way, I wouldn’t let women’s cricket happen.’ He hates women’s cricket.”
“I’ve always been a BCCI basher, right from the day women’s cricket came under the BCCI fold in 2006. BCCI is a very male-chauvinist organisation. They never wanted women to dictate terms or get into this space. I was very vocal right from my playing days,” she had said.
India won its maiden Women’s World Cup title
India won the maiden Women’s Cricket World Cup title after securing a thrilling 52-runs victory over South Africa on Sunday, led by an impressive all-round performances from both Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma.
Opening batter Verma, who was initially not included in the 15-member squad earned a call-up as an injury replacement for Pratika Rawal, she scored a career-best 87 off 78 deliveries helping India reach 298/7 in their 50 overs after being put in to bat.
South Africa’s hopes faded after skipper Wolvaardt’s wicket
South Africa were all out at 246 in 45.3 overs while chasing, with their hopes fading once captain Laura Wolvaardt fell for 101. Deepti Sharma sealed the win by picking the last wicket, finishing with an impressive figures of 5/39 in 9.3 overs.
India’s World Cup-winning skipper Harmanpreet Kaur also delivered a subtle response on Sunday to those who had doubted her team, “I think criticism is also a part of life. It’s not necessary that everything should be good,” she told reporters.
“Criticism is one of the main things in life because it brings balance. Otherwise, if everything goes well, you’ll be overconfident. I don’t blame those who criticize, because we know when we aren’t doing something right.
Harmanpreet reflects on carrying the momentum forward
“I don’t have much to say, but I like to keep both things balanced. When good things happen, I don’t go too high; when bad things happen, I don’t dig deep. For me, the most important thing is to stay balanced, and I try to send the same message to my teammates. When everything is going well – it’s okay, well done, but now we have to maintain it. And even when things aren’t going well, we try to keep everyone together so that we can lift that person up.”