The women’s team of India has been out of action for almost a year, as plans for resumption of cricket have taken a hit, owing to the challenging circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the men’s team continues to play amidst all of it.
In what comes as a shocking new for cricketing fans, the upcoming India women’s tour of Australia has been called off due to the challenging circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. What’s even shocking that while India’s men’s team continues to play in Australia, there was hardly any reason for the women’s team to call off its tour.
According to an earlier report by ESPNCricinfo, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) wasn’t really keen on the tour. Furthermore, the 2021 ICC Women’s World Cup postponement raised the lethargy even more among the board members, as the women’s team has not played any cricket since the ICC World T20 final in March, this year.
Meanwhile, following the postponement, Nick Hockley, the interim CEO of Cricket Australia (CA), hoped for the tour to be rescheduled later. “We are very hopeful of delivering an expanded schedule between the Australian and Indian women’s teams for next season, which would be an outstanding result for fans in both countries,” he said, reports cricket.com.au.
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“We had initially hoped to play India this summer. However, the impact of the global pandemic made it necessary to postpone until next season. It will be wonderful to once again host the Indian women’s team, who were centre stage for that unforgettable ICC T20 World Cup final at the MCG in March, and to do so with an expanded schedule from what was originally planned,” he added.
Meanwhile, the news was not well received by some of the former Indian cricketers and fans. Former Indian opener and now commentator, Aakash Chopra lashed out at BCCI by sending out a tweet, that read, “How does one justify this? Men’s cricket is happening right now, but women can’t play. Gender equality, anyone?”
How does one justify this? Men’s cricket is happening right now but women can’t play. Gender equality, anyone? pic.twitter.com/78e3Fey1Ht
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash)How is it that we can have the India vs Australia mens cricket tournament in Australia over 3 months, but can't have the womens tournament that is 3 matches long.
— Incognito 36 Moist. (@prafullsaraf)WTF... Cricket Australia has postponed the Australia-India Women's series because of the Covid-19 risk. Apparently, Men's Cricket is immune or Scomo doesn't go to these matches? pic.twitter.com/xO6cYiR3OR
— Roy Edmund Antaw (@RoyEdmundAntaw)Strange, IPL can happen, Men series can happen, Big bash league can happen, so many other men's team tours can happen, but women series postponed due go pandemic!
India vs Australia women s ODI series postponed due to coronavirus https://t.co/MUmeXx0mtT