The recent contract of players announced by The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) generated lots of enthusiasm among the netizens and other general masses in equal measure. The subject was bound to generate such excitement as the wage between the male and female cricketers was starkly unequal. Here is the list-
Some of them even went to the extent of calling the BCCI as "misogynist". Others too criticised BCCI with even more harshness. It is understandable and even a good sign that people are voicing their concerns for women's rights. In a society like India, which is predominantly patriarchal, such support for women from different corners is indeed a very progressing sign and a moment of celebration. However, before judging BCCI in this particular aspect, let us pause for a moment and take a step backward to understand the various aspects of Indian cricket.
Secondly, even looking at the present situation, the bashing on social media seems to be less-than-justified. This is because men's cricket players play for an average of 250 days cricket. This takes a heavy toll on their family life, physical fitness. Moreover, they are continuously under scanner and cannot afford even a single error. Otherwise, the over-enthusiastic media personnel and also the cricket-loving people do not leave any stone unturned in giving sudden verdict. A quick recap would make us remember that players home had been stoned or blackened by overzealous cricket fans. Such instances of madness, if I may call so, has not been observed in women's cricket even at an iota level. Not that I want the same for them, but I am taking this example to simply compare the level of progress the men's cricket have made in a challenging ecosystem.
Thirdly, and most importantly, the men's cricket is much more organised at present. There is a complete system viz. domestic and international cricket. The domestic level cricket is well-established with greater competition. For eg. The Ranji Trophy was started in the 1934-1935 itself. There are other tournaments as well to prepare the domestic players for the international matches. Some of them include the Duleep Trophy, Irani Trophy, Deodhar Trophy and so on. The plate is full for all round development of the male players in India at various age groups. However, there are not many domestic competition for women. Two of them are- Senior Women's One Day League and Inter-State women's Twenty20 Competition. All this suggests that the competition level among male players are way greater than female cricket.
In my humble opinion, therefore, the focus should be on improving the women's cricket. In this case, BCCI has a greater role to play. The beginning has already been made. The match fees at the domestic level cricket has been increased. This has, as the former Indian Women Cricket captain Ms. Diana Edulji says, the potential to attract players from the grassroot level, from the small town who look for certainty and stability in career.
Moreover, as is also being suggested, there can be inter-school tournaments in every city, talent hunt programs in every village can be launched so as to look for promising players, who do not come out of their comfort zone due to lack of awareness and a holding hand to support them. Not only this, the Board also needs to introduce training for the selected and motivated ones. In this respect, the former captain held that a plan is being made to train the players at the National Cricket Academy in the domain of pace bowling, spin and wicket-keeping.
Well, in the medium-term then, the BCCI should also collaborate with the broadcasters to make the reach of women's cricket more broad-based and accessible to the general public. People should be able to watch the game of cricket with same enthusiasm that is witnessed in case of men's cricket. In this direction, sooner than latter, India can also introduce Big Bash League (BBL) or Indian Premier League (IPL) like competition for women in India as well. Success in the IPL shows that India has the ability to venture in this direction as well without much difficulty.
At the end, only the performance speaks. If players keep performing well, it is certain to generate interest among the cricket-lovers. The 2017 world cup runners-up tag should only become a launching pad and not an event to compare the wages between male and female cricketers. As the number of win increases, the pay gap will automatically decrease and might even become equitable in the near future. However, till the time such situation arises, let us all enjoy and support the #womeninblue to scale new heights in future.
Sources:
1. http://www.deccanchronicle.com/sports/cricket/110318/cricketing-wage-gap-in-focus.html
2. https://www.thequint.com/sports/cricket/gender-pay-gap-in-cricket-mithali-raj-virat-kohli
3. http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22718443/india-women-make-pay-grade-last
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_Big_Bash_League
Some of them even went to the extent of calling the BCCI as "misogynist". Others too criticised BCCI with even more harshness. It is understandable and even a good sign that people are voicing their concerns for women's rights. In a society like India, which is predominantly patriarchal, such support for women from different corners is indeed a very progressing sign and a moment of celebration. However, before judging BCCI in this particular aspect, let us pause for a moment and take a step backward to understand the various aspects of Indian cricket.
In this respect, firstly, let us understand that men's cricket was not built overnight. The victory at Lords in 1983 was one euphoria moment for the Indian men's cricket. Since then, the men's cricket has progressed in small steps to the current position of arguably the world champions. The men's team at present even holds the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, the 2011 Cricket World Cup, the 2013 ICC Championship Trophy. The women's cricket is yet to touch these feats which their counterpart has achieved. They are yet to produce a Sachin Tendulkar or a Kapil Dev or a MS Dhoni.
Secondly, even looking at the present situation, the bashing on social media seems to be less-than-justified. This is because men's cricket players play for an average of 250 days cricket. This takes a heavy toll on their family life, physical fitness. Moreover, they are continuously under scanner and cannot afford even a single error. Otherwise, the over-enthusiastic media personnel and also the cricket-loving people do not leave any stone unturned in giving sudden verdict. A quick recap would make us remember that players home had been stoned or blackened by overzealous cricket fans. Such instances of madness, if I may call so, has not been observed in women's cricket even at an iota level. Not that I want the same for them, but I am taking this example to simply compare the level of progress the men's cricket have made in a challenging ecosystem.
Thirdly, and most importantly, the men's cricket is much more organised at present. There is a complete system viz. domestic and international cricket. The domestic level cricket is well-established with greater competition. For eg. The Ranji Trophy was started in the 1934-1935 itself. There are other tournaments as well to prepare the domestic players for the international matches. Some of them include the Duleep Trophy, Irani Trophy, Deodhar Trophy and so on. The plate is full for all round development of the male players in India at various age groups. However, there are not many domestic competition for women. Two of them are- Senior Women's One Day League and Inter-State women's Twenty20 Competition. All this suggests that the competition level among male players are way greater than female cricket.
In my humble opinion, therefore, the focus should be on improving the women's cricket. In this case, BCCI has a greater role to play. The beginning has already been made. The match fees at the domestic level cricket has been increased. This has, as the former Indian Women Cricket captain Ms. Diana Edulji says, the potential to attract players from the grassroot level, from the small town who look for certainty and stability in career.
Moreover, as is also being suggested, there can be inter-school tournaments in every city, talent hunt programs in every village can be launched so as to look for promising players, who do not come out of their comfort zone due to lack of awareness and a holding hand to support them. Not only this, the Board also needs to introduce training for the selected and motivated ones. In this respect, the former captain held that a plan is being made to train the players at the National Cricket Academy in the domain of pace bowling, spin and wicket-keeping.
Well, in the medium-term then, the BCCI should also collaborate with the broadcasters to make the reach of women's cricket more broad-based and accessible to the general public. People should be able to watch the game of cricket with same enthusiasm that is witnessed in case of men's cricket. In this direction, sooner than latter, India can also introduce Big Bash League (BBL) or Indian Premier League (IPL) like competition for women in India as well. Success in the IPL shows that India has the ability to venture in this direction as well without much difficulty.
At the end, only the performance speaks. If players keep performing well, it is certain to generate interest among the cricket-lovers. The 2017 world cup runners-up tag should only become a launching pad and not an event to compare the wages between male and female cricketers. As the number of win increases, the pay gap will automatically decrease and might even become equitable in the near future. However, till the time such situation arises, let us all enjoy and support the #womeninblue to scale new heights in future.
Sources:
1. http://www.deccanchronicle.com/sports/cricket/110318/cricketing-wage-gap-in-focus.html
2. https://www.thequint.com/sports/cricket/gender-pay-gap-in-cricket-mithali-raj-virat-kohli
3. http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22718443/india-women-make-pay-grade-last
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_Big_Bash_League
