OCA pads up for development of women's cricket

CUTTACK: Encouraged by the success of women cricketers from the state Madhuri Mehta and Rosanara Parvin, the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) has decided to strengthen women's cricket in the state. The cricket body has chalked out a detailed strategy to promote the sports in the state.The OCA has decided to set up cricket academies for girls in all districts and identify talented players from the grassroots level. OCA officials said school and college-level tournaments for women will be organized across the state to identify budding women cricketers. Selected players from there will be provided the right kind of platform to enhance their skills.In a bid to provide more exposure to the girls, the cricket association has also decided to increase the number of tournaments for women in the state."In the last few years, we have taken many initiatives to popularize cricket among girls. Talent hunt programmes and training camps have been organized across the state, as a result of which we have managed to produce two national-level cricketers, Madhuri and Roshanara. The achievements of these two girls have given a boost to women's cricket in the state. We are now focused on producing more national-level women cricketers from here," OCA secretary Asirbad Behera said.The state cricket body will organize an under-19 training camp at Cuttack in September for women cricketers. "Most of the girls from lower and middle class families are coming forward to play cricket. The cricket academies that we have planned will be a boon for them," added Behera. Madhuri Mehta and Roshanara Parvin have been the poster girls of women's cricket in the state of late. While Madhrui was selected for the national team for a series against the West Indies recently, Roshanara has grabbed a place in the T-20 World Cup team.Reacting to the OCA initiatives, Madhuri said, "There is no dearth of talented players in the state. With right kind of training and opportunity, our players can bring laurels to the state. The efforts of OCA will definitely help us to produce more national level players from the state."