Mithali Raj-led Indian side reached the finals of World Cup 2017 and missed out on winning the maiden title by a whisker. The coverage was huge. A record number of people watched the final of the World Cup — the highest number in the history of the tournament. That was the last ODI they played in 2017 on June 23. Since then, they have not played a single ODI against any team.
After a gap of 226 days, Team India are playing an ODI on their tour of South Africa, but there is no telecast or live streaming on any of the channels. On the contrary, the India Men vs South Africa Men series is being telecast in two languages in India. The advertisement, ’25 saal ka badla’ surfaced almost a month before the series. While there were shows analyzing and anticipating what is to come in the series, the coverage on women’s tour was almost negligible.
Board of Control of Cricket (BCCI) posts videos and pictures of the live matches on a regular basis. The Twitter account is filled with updates of the match. Whereas BCCI Women Twitter account gets updates in an interval of 10-15 overs. Moreover, they even made a glaring mistake on Twitter, later deleting the post.
BCCI Women Twitter screenshot
And this is what really happened –
WICKET | @BCCIWomen lose their first wicket as Raut 19 is caught by Ismail as she attempted a maximum off Ayabonga Khaka does not go according to plan. 55/1#ProteasWomen #AlwaysRising #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/k98bVWkgMA
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) February 5, 2018
Such goof-ups on social media come in stark contrast to the fact that even the Women’s Challengers Trophy was telecast on Star Sports and streamed on Hotstar. Sony LIV even broadcasts Women’s Big Bash League in India. Countries like England and Australia telecast every international fixture of their women cricketers. Harmanpreet Kaur recently made it to the Forbes India 30 Under 30 list. The following in women’s cricket increased multifold over the last one year, so what is keeping BCCI, which is the richest cricket board in the world?
According to The Field, a media representative from BCCI said, “BCCI does not have the rights for the matches that are played outside India”. But shouldn’t it have been solved beforehand?
The ignorance also attracted criticism from Twitterati –
Its rather unfortunate that the women’s ODI between India and SAF isn’t being telecast.
So much for us saying Revolution etc. @BCCI @ICC— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) February 5, 2018
.@BCCI .@BCCIWomen
I know nobody is interested in coverage, but can we at least have periodic update about Team India from today’s #SAWvINDW match?— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) February 5, 2018
Very disappointing that @SPNSportsIndia decides not to telecast the @BCCIWomen vs @OfficialCSA women’s matches. Can’t be any worse.
— Bastab K Parida (@ParidaBastab) February 5, 2018
The only available live scores and information for this match is @OfficialCSA on Twitter
(Also the only ones who didn’t get @BCCIWomen‘s opening combination wrong) https://t.co/UajmwC1EeK
— ZENIA D’CUNHA (@ZENIADCUNHA) February 5, 2018
Why @BCCI why?
Why @BCCIWomen why?
By doing these things how can you promote women’s game?@sachin_rt this is really shame on the program like #KheloIndia
ये तो वही बात हो गयी कि चार दिन की चाँदनी फिर अँधेरी रात!!! pic.twitter.com/22I0O7yORE— Dhanish kumar (@imdhanish) February 5, 2018
Frustrating this is! Absolutely no mention of the @BCCIWomen tour of SA and the 1st ODI which starts today in @BCCI website! No news of live telecasting/streaming as well! Not cool! pic.twitter.com/wL8qw5xoGk
— BCCIWomenFC (@BCCIWomenFC) February 5, 2018
Ridiculous that @BCCIWomen vs @OfficialCSA – the first match World Cup finalists are playing in 6 months, to qualify for the next one – is not telecasted
The ‘recognition’ post #WWC17 was only tokenism then,
Still no space for women’s cricket in India— ZENIA D’CUNHA (@ZENIADCUNHA) February 5, 2018
This is utterly disgraceful. Why could they not make prior arrangments. No point in being the most influential cricket Board in thw World
— prabhakar kaza (@prabhakarkaza) February 5, 2018
Totally disappointed!!!
No live telecast/streaming of #INDWvSAW
Wasn’t it supposed to be shown on SonySix ?? @BCCIWomen— Anuradha (@anu1808_) February 5, 2018
Why there is no telecast of Women cricket Vs SA @BCCI ?Why discrimination with girls& @BCCIWomen ?Is this the way #KheloIndia will be success @Ra_THORe sir? @smritiirani mam if @ddsportschannel can telecast boys,why not girls? #BetiBachaoBetiPadhao doesn’t work here @narendramodi
— Manoranjan Sahoo (@mano_soham) February 5, 2018
Very disappointing no live coverage not even on hotstar. On the other hand Australia’s WBBL was live on both platforms. BCCI the richest cricket board can’t sell TV rights for women’s cricket. Disappointing. #SAvIND
— Avinash Kunder (@AvinashKunder) February 5, 2018
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#bcci after the deadly performance by our Girls in blue – board is on a long Nap in terms of promoting,advertising the game at highest level now that U19 have lifted the trophy country expects fair play for ALL.
— Ashish Kapoor (@ashcupper26) February 5, 2018
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There is a large consensus that in order for women’s cricket to flourish, the BCCI needs to pay heed to the women cricketers and provide them with the coverage they deserve.
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