The long wait for India women's cricketers ended today when newly-elected BCCI President Shashank Manohar announced central contracts for them, 11 years after the system was introduced for their male counterparts.
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"It has been decided that women cricketers will get central contracts. We will continue to work on women's cricket and I hope this move would encourage more and more young girls to take up the sport," Manohar said.
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The decision was long overdue, said former India captain Dian Edulji, but it was something that was expected after the approval of the BCCI finance committee.
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The issue of central contracts was slated to be discussed at the working committee meeting on August 28 but the meeting was adjourned due the presence of N Srinivasan.
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"It is a welcome decision but a lot more needs to be done for women's cricket. This was expected too considering the finance committee had cleared it. Like the male cricketers, women cricketers too need a sense of job security. What remains to be seen is the amount they will get in the contracts," Edulji told PTI.
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"It was long overdue as well. Cricketers of most Test playing nations already have contracts and that includes Pakistan."
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Edulji hopes the Manohar-led BCCI, which took control of women's cricket in 2006, works more for the betterment of women's cricket and for starters pay heed to their long standing demand of one-time benefit scheme for former cricketers like herself.
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"The issue of one-time benefit payments to former cricketers is equally important. I know some of the ex-players who are in desperate need for help. I hope BCCI looks into it at the earliest," she added.
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"Another thing I expect from BCCI is to make sure the women's World T20, which will be held in India simultaneously with the men's competition, is organised properly," the 1983 Arjuna awardee added.