Women's Cricket on the Rise in Scenic Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association set up the only cricket academy for girls in the country six years ago. Today they have 24 girls from the interiors of the state and their under-19 team has already thrown up some promising stars, including the first cricketer for India from this facility.
Indian women's cricket merged with the BCCI a decade ago but the attitude towards grooming a ladies team by the states has been far from satisfactory. The only exception has been Himachal Pradesh, which started an academy in 2008 and the results are already showing.
At the break of dawn every day, 24 girls from 8 districts of Himachal gather at the Dharamsala cricket stadium for a dream. Their dream is to wear the India colours one day.
Natasha Negi, 14, was picked up during trials in Kinnaur. She has been here for the last two years and has shown remarkable progress. Natasha comes from a broken home and she finds solace in cricket.
"My mother works in Rampur. She did not know that I played cricket in her absence. My villagers saw me and encouraged me to concentrate on the sport so that I could have a life. My parents are separated and father does not keep contact with us. I want to succeed in cricket and show him what I am capable of."
This cricket academy run by the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association for women is the only one of its kind in India. They conduct trials regularly in the interiors of the state and scan the best talents.
"The kids who come here are from Kinnaur, Mandi and various other backward places. When they come, they are raw talents, uncut diamonds. They do not know much about the game, gradually learn the ropes," said Veena Pandey, one of the five dedicated trainers at the academy.
In 2008, they started the academy in Kangra but had to subsequently move to Dharamsala because the conditions were not suitable.
One of the products of this academy is Sushma Verma. The wicket-keeper batswoman was picked in the Indian Team last year. She is one of the earliest recruits of this residential academy. They take in girls from the age of 10 and then look after their overall development without any cost.
Prachi Chauhan from Shimla says, "Anurag (Thakur) sir has created wonderful facilities for us. We work and play here. There is cricket training in the morning, skill sessions in the evening and studies at night. Some of us do get homesick but we are like one big family here."
This academy's under-19 girls team has made it to the semi-finals of the national championship for the last three consecutive years. The young guns are now preparing to scale bigger peaks in days to come.