Why We Must Focus More On Women’s Cricket In India And Pakistan

In October, the BCCI announced that women cricketers’ pay will now be equal to that of their male counterparts. While this move is welcomed by everyone and we're overjoyed to see that India will host its first Women's Indian Premiere League coming 2023, there still are insurmountable challenges that women's cricket faces every day in India. If we talk about our neighbouring country Pakistan, the challenges are far too many, and a battle equally tough.

The panel 'Writing about women in Sports' at SheThePeople's Women Writers' Fest shed light on the state of women’s cricket in India and Pakistan and why conversations around them are significant, now more than ever. The panel including speakers Karunya Keshav and Aayush Puthrana, alongside the moderator Deepshikha Chakravarti, discussed the challenges that continue to soar as more opportunities open for women cricketers, why development at the grassroots is important if we want women's cricket to flourish in the two countries, and more.

Karunya Keshav is a writer and editor. She is also a digital media consultant and holds expertise in sports. She co-authored the book The Fire Burns Blue: A History of Women's Cricket in India along with Sidhanta Patnaik. Aayush Puthran is a journalist and an author. He is a writer at Cricbuzz, an Indian cricket news website. He is also the author of Unveiling Jazbaa: A History of Pakistan Women's Cricket.

Suggested reading: Batting For Equality: Women Cricketers Getting Equal Pay Sets Course For Change

Challenges Of Women Cricket In India and Pakistan 

Why the focus on women playing the game is low?

In the two countries, where people are huge fans of the game, the focus on women actually playing the game is extremely low compared to men. Puthran, who immersed himself in an extensive research process, shared his ">experience and spoke about the limited focus that is there on women in Pakistan. "It's quite evident that the focus is low. There's hardly any video documentation of women playing the game, especially in Pakistan. This is a conversation we've been having for years that apart from other logical factors, the social constructs of society in the two countries also contribute to it. There are, however, better days now."

Throwing light on how the game in itself is expensive to even practice leave alone sustain, Keshav explains, "It's definitely an excessive game. It also had to do with the earlier times when families mostly focussed on their boys and put money on their career development or interest in sports," she says, adding that while things are changing now, the impact of social constructs that have long remained continues to hover us to some extent.

Challenges in putting together a book solely focused on women cricket's history

Keshav points to facts stating that there's very little written about women's cricket in India. Although sharing stories behind the monumental matches and scorecards was a huge kick, the journalistic aspect of verifying women's stories was more significant while peening down narrations.

Puthran shed light on the discrepancies that sometimes came up during background research. "For me, Pakistan cricketers were a small group and most people were accessible. However, verifying stories and not touching sensitive topics that could not be backed up was challenging. Again, lack of documentation and coverage was a huge obstacle and, coverage, to some extent, is a challenge even today."

How social constructs and structures put women behind  

The social norms, structures and age-old beliefs in both nations have, more often than not, led to several women giving up their dreams of becoming athletes because they are either bound by family or the other duties that hinder their sporting journeys. Puthran recalled the time when he came across stories of Pak cricketers that were overwhelming with respect to where they came from and the deep conduct they faced just to play. Marriage and family, in India and Pakistan, continue to be primary factors that shadow women’s lives, irrespective of the profession to some extent. For cricketers, it becomes a junction to choose ether. family life or cricket. The space to make both make a career in sports and a family life coexist has, unfortunately, not been pushed and supported by the system in these two countries.

Keshav highlights the stages in which young girls or women drop out of their cricketing journeys to pursue a job, get married, or both. "The women's domestic in India doesn't pay well. While Railways does pay decently, the other departments barely do the minimum and women cricketers do not have the advantage of representing clubs either. Therefore, they usually drop out to sustain themselves and earn a livelihood."

Demand for coverage and equal respect and opportunities

As dedicated journalists and authors who have invested their effort and years in the game, both Keshav and Puthran say their passion makes them a part of the game's journey. Talking about how media coverage, in general, is very low with respect to women's cricket, the kind of changes required for publications and people to be more invested also stem from the shifts in mindsets with regard to women playing.

"Women sportspersons have to be treated with equal respect. Equal pay is good and welcomed but what is more inspiring for women is that they know they are being treated with equal respect as their male counterparts," says Keshav. 

Accepting and appreciating women cricketers will bring them more opportunities and better playing conditions."

Women's IPL

Women's Indian Premiere League, which will kickstart in March 2023 is sure to bring a new wave of change regarding coverage for women cricketers. Whether it's sponsors, television coverage or fans filling stadiums, the start it'll initiate is something that both Keshav and Puthran are confident about. However, the duo reflect, it's not enough to keep the consistency going and bring a change at the grassroots level. "It will surely improve the quality of cricket. Equal pay is good, but equal opportunities not just one time a year with a big tournament but the entire year with matches and series is something that will help women dream more and make a career in cricket," says Keshav.

Discussing how both the BCCI and PCB must work right from the grassroots level to encourage aspiring female cricketers and national cricketers, Purthan expresses that a collective fresh outlook is required. "If we talk about opinions, it's good that WIPL is being supported and there will be good marketing cornering the names and brands attached, it's natural for these sponsors to continue their support to those who need the limelight and financial stability. The money aspect is complex if we talk about both cricketing nations hence the usability to divide it so everyone benefits are huge too."

Discussing how there are initiatives underway to bring more women at the forefront in other spaces in cricket including groundstaff, match referees and pitch curators, both Keshav and Purthan emphasise that it's more women in sports administration that will pave way for change in the right direction.