Cricket has resumed all over the world – But what about India Women?
The 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup Final was an iconic event in the history of Women’s Cricket. 86,174 spectators did not only apprehend records (12,717 from previous Women’s T20 World Cup final back in 2009.) but also fetched new horizons when it comes to the popularity and development of Women’s cricket.
Regardless of its iconic feat, the final between India vs Australia was exhibited as a one-sided affair where the hosts did expound their fifth glory. But the day (8th March) also earmarked the Indian women’s team playing their last match of 2020.
Leaving apart the iconic finale and India’s prolific run in the T20 World Cup, the women cricketers did lock horns in the BCCI’s marquee small-sized T20 tournament (Women’s T20 Challenge) which took its course alongside the men’s IPL playoffs. But the scrutiny still remains in place when it comes to the certainty of India’s next international fixture.
What a night! What a moment for the #Trailblazers
CHAMPIONS of #JioWomensT20Challenge 2020 pic.twitter.com/WIysjqPPGT
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) November 9, 2020
Cancellation of India’s tours and fixtures
Since the pandemic’s incursion, the BCCI first made a pull off by effacing the women’s team participation from a tri-series in England back in September. Despite ECB’s best attempts, BCCI cited reasons regarding travel restrictions and the assembling of training camps amid the coronavirus crisis.
The Australian tour was well proposed by Cricket Australia back in May comprising a three-match ODI series in January 2021. But as per the recent developments, the tour has been deferred to March 2022.
International tours of top-level teams after the pandemic
Although, it was Austria vs Germany series which marked the return of women’s international cricket but when it comes to the top nations, it was the West Indies tour of England (5 T20Is) in September which marked the return. Following the above tour, we had the New Zealand women’s tour of Australia which comprised three T20Is and 3 ODIs.
Pakistan Women’s tour of South Africa (three ODIs and three T20Is) has now been confirmed which will soon take its shape on January 20th 2021. The Women’s Big Bash League of 2020 which had commenced in October also expounded as a prosperous affair in the context of the Australian women’s cricket.
BCCI’s statements regarding resumption of Women’s cricket
As per the reports coming from BCCI’s recently concluded AGM, the board is in talks with the Sri Lankan board for a possible bilateral series in March. Prior to the Sri Lankan series, the BCCI has also indicated a domestic tournament in February.
Along with the men’s IPL, the BCCI has also scheduled the next Women’s T20 challenge tournament. The tour of England which had been postponed in September 2020 is also on cards after the Women’s T20 Challenge. Some officials have also suggested that the calendar of 2021 would try to add as many tours that were refrained by the pandemic.
