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Women in Cricket - Constraints and Challenges

Abstract

This article sheds light on the current state of women's cricket in India and the challenges and limitations that female cricketers face. Despite being one of the best teams in the world and having made significant progress in recent years, women's cricket still receives significantly less recognition and support than men's. The article highlights the disparities in opportunities, viewership, pay, and societal attitudes towards women in cricket. It also explores the impact of gender inequality and Indian nationalism on the status of women in cricket. The article concludes by emphasizing the need to address the obstacles experienced by women in the sport and offer equal opportunities for the growth and recognition of women's cricket.

 

The Ladies in Blue, commonly known as the Indian women's national cricket team, represents India internationally in women's cricket. The team is currently ranked fourth in the ICC Women's ODI & T20I Rankings. The Indian squad is one of the best in Asia and the world, having made significant strides in recent years and proving their mettle on multiple occasions. It reached the ICC World Cup finals twice, in 2005 and 2017, but unfortunately, they could not clinch the championship on both occasions. Additionally, India has made it to the T20I World Cup semi-finals four times (2009, 2010, 2018, and 2023) and the finals once (2020). In the 2022 Commonwealth Games, India took home a silver medal.


In India, men's cricket is given significantly more prestige and prominence than women's, resulting in significant differences in terms of opportunities and recognition. Consequently, women's cricket occupies a relatively modest and almost undetectable space, while men's cricket has a substantial influence on Indian nationalism.


Several points can be highlighted when comparing the men's cricket team with the women's cricket team. Women play fewer matches compared to the men's cricket team, which limits their opportunities. Women's cricket associations often struggle financially and operate at a loss. Women's cricket events and tournaments receive substantially less attention in terms of viewership than their male counterparts. In India, cricket is not just a sport but also a symbol of nationalism. However, this nationalism is typically limited to the men's cricket team, and the women's cricket team is not seen as an integral part of the nationalism that cricket generates. As a result, if the country experiences success at the national level in cricket, women's contributions are not adequately acknowledged, and it is believed that women have little to do with India's successes. They are denied access to the political and public realms that cricket frequently inhabits. This is ironic because, despite men's cricket supporting a "unity in diversity" worldview by embracing regional and theological diversity, women are effectively shut out of the forums that foster such a paradigm.


Image Source: http://surl.li/iqemq


The BCCI paid Indian cricketers (both men and women) based on their performance, which was evaluated using the points they earned in the BCCI's grading system. The BCCI has announced three grade schemes for women's cricketers and four for men:


A+ category - Player of all three formats

A category - All three formats, at least two formats, and Test cricket is required.

B category - Two formats

C category - Player in a single format


Men cricketers' salary

​Grade A +

Grade A

Grade B

Grade C

INR 7 Cr

INR 5 Cr

INR 3 Cr

​INR 1 Cr

Women cricketers’ salary

Grade A

Grade B

Grade C

INR 50 Lakhs

INR 30 Lakhs

​INR 10 Lakhs

The pay gap between male and female cricketers makes it very evident that women in cricket are subordinated and partially excluded.


Image Source: http://surl.li/iqelo


The lack of parental support, the absence of high-quality cricket grounds and other options for female players are some of the leading causes of gender inequality in cricket. The prevalent social impression of cricket as a sport for men and the general atmosphere of gender inequality in Indian society, which supports stereotypes, contribute to this situation. Jhulan Goswami, one of India's top cricketers, has admitted that convincing her parents to allow her to pursue cricket as her mainstream profession was an arduous task. Indian society often perceives cricket as a sport for men, failing to comprehend how changing these ideas can impact the number of girls and women participating in sports. Men's cricket is able to maintain its hegemonic position due to the widespread subordination of women and its connection to Indian nationalism, which allows men to rule over women and dominate masculinity over femininity.


In summary, women in cricket face various limitations and challenges, including a lack of prospects, salary discrepancies, and infrastructural deficiencies. However, women's cricket has recently gained more recognition and opportunities, and female cricketers have achieved several significant milestones. To ensure the sustained growth and increased visibility of women's cricket, it is essential to address the barriers faced by women in the sport and provide equal opportunities.


References



*This article is authored By Tarishi Verma & Muskaan Jain, Students from Symbiosis Law School, Noida and reviewed by Sparsh Narayan, Student from Symbiosis Law School, Noida.

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