The BCCI is trying every bit to make India’s 500th Test at Green Park against New Zealand, Kanpur, a memorable match. It was previously informed that the ex-captains of the Indian men’s Test team will be invited to Kanpur and it was recently decided that women’s cricket team captain Mithali Raj will be called up along with former skippers Diana Edulji and Shubhangi Kulkarni. It was learnt that present vice-captain of the women’s team, Harmanpreet Kaur is also expected to grace the auspicious occasion.
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As per the reports of the Hindustan times, Diana Edulji said, “This will be a big moment for India’s men’s cricket team, but if the BCCI would have extended their invites to former Test skippers of the Indian women’s team, it would have been a wonderful gesture. In the recent past, the BCCI has taken some wonderful decisions for uplifting women’s cricket, but by inviting the former women’s captains for the 500th Test would have done a lot of good for women’s cricket.”
Edulji is a former captain of the Women’s Cricket team and has played 20 Tests and 34 ODIs. She was highly rated and is still considered one of the best all-rounders India ever produced. It is a good sign that the Board is involving the Women’s Cricket wing in the special event but the former international feels that the BCCI needs to give more attention to the women’s side and admits that a big tournament win can change the ‘attitude’ of the BCCI.
“We have always had to ask for things. It has never been awarded to us. Whenever there is any discussion on cricket in the BCCI, it is all about the men’s team” said Edulji.
She added, “Any thought on women’s cricket does not come naturally to them. As I have been saying, winning one big tournament or a championship will perhaps help change this attitude.”
Also read: BCCI set to felicitate all former Indian captains during '500th Test'
Apart from the above arrangements, the BCCI along with the UPCA has decided to prepare T-shirts with 500 written on it. Regarding this matter, Rajiv Shukla said, “Every day, there will be 2000 under-privileged school children, who would be watching their favourite stars in action. We have also made arrangements for physically challenged persons and kids from the orphanage, who would be attending the Test match.”
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