Former India women cricket team's skipper is ecstatic after the pay parity announced by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on October 27. Edulji feels that the move will make more girls pursue cricket as a career option.
“I am very happy with this news and it is a great diwali gift given by BCCI to women cricketers. By announcing this the BCCI has taken a big step in recognizing women cricketers and women’s cricket,” Edulji told Indian Express.
Edulji does not regret the time when funds were scarce. Also, she remembered her playing days when they had to pay money out of their pocket to live their dream of representing India before BCCI took women cricket under its wings.
“We travelled in unreserved compartments. We could not help it, there was no money and it was only after the BCCI took over women’s cricket in 2006 that things started looking better. And I am glad we laid the foundation stone, Shantha (Rangaswamy) and myself fought hard for it.
Our views are still being taken into consideration. I won’t grudge anything. We paid from our pockets also but we played for passion. Now they (the current team) have to play for passion and pride because they are representing the board and country which is very prestigious.”
She also recalled a time when every member of the team was asked to pay Rs 10,000 to represent India in World Cup hosted by Australia.
“We didn’t have match fees and we paid to play. When we went to Australia for the World Cup, each girl was asked to pay Rs 10,000 to play for India which was a lot of money. There were four of us from Maharashtra and we made an appeal to the chief minister AR Antulay. We said we did not have the money. He immediately gave the cheque,” she added.
