A Genuine Parent
For those of us who have watched our daughters pursue cricket in Hyderabad and Telangana, the recent developments in women’s cricket at the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) offer something that has been missing for quite some time—hope.
Is women’s cricket finally getting back on track? The answer, perhaps, is yes, but with cautious optimism.
Whatever the internal differences, infighting or the influence of individuals who have traditionally wielded power within the system, there appears to be a welcome course correction. And, as a parent whose primary interest is women’s cricket, I believe former India Test cricketer Ambati Rayudu, along with Jeevan Reddy, deserves appreciation for encouraging a process that is giving young women cricketers a genuine opportunity to be seen and assessed.
The decision to conduct a proper Under-19 women’s league and, more importantly, to provide opportunities to aspiring cricketers from different parts of Telangana is particularly encouraging. For many young girls, talent has never been the problem. The problem has been getting a fair platform to demonstrate that talent.
That seems to be changing.
I would particularly like to acknowledge the confidence placed in the women’s selection panel led by Suvarnalaxmi, Keerthana, Anita Mishra, Sangeetha and Ekta Saxena. Their responsibility is enormous because the future of several young cricketers could depend on how objectively and professionally talent is identified.
Equally important is the work of the talent-hunt team comprising Sunita Anand, Anna Mariya and Revathi, who have been involved in identifying players from across Telangana. This wider search for talent is precisely what women’s cricket needs. Talent cannot be confined to Hyderabad or to familiar cricketing circles. If the HCA genuinely wants to build a strong women’s cricket structure, the search must reach every district and every promising young player willing to work hard.
Another development that deserves special mention is the introduction of 360-degree camera coverage. For the first time, matches can be monitored remotely, including from the farthest corners of Telangana. This may sound like a technical improvement, but for parents and players it means much more. Greater visibility can bring greater accountability and, hopefully, greater confidence in the selection process.
What has impressed me most is the opportunity reportedly being provided to nearly 340 players from across Telangana. Every girl getting an opportunity to showcase her skills is a positive development. Not everyone will make the final cut, nor should everyone. But every deserving player must get a fair chance to prove herself.
That is what a healthy cricket system is supposed to provide.
There is, however, an opportunity to take this initiative one step further.
Once the shortlisted players are identified, the HCA could consider creating two teams of around 24–26 players each and inviting quality guest teams for practice matches. Teams such as West Bengal or Jharkhand could be considered. This could eventually develop into a quadrangular series, giving our girls the opportunity to play against unfamiliar and competitive opposition.
Such matches would serve two purposes. They would allow the players to test themselves against stronger opposition, while simultaneously giving selectors and coaches a much clearer picture of where Hyderabad and Telangana stand in comparison with other states.
Ultimately, women’s cricket cannot be built merely through selections and tournaments. It requires a sustained pathway—talent identification, coaching, competitive matches, fitness, exposure and, above all, confidence that merit will matter.
As parents, we do not expect miracles. We do not expect every girl to become an international cricketer. What we seek is a system where a talented daughter can walk onto a cricket field knowing that she has been given a genuine opportunity, irrespective of where she comes from or whom she knows.
The recent developments give us reason to believe that such a system may finally be taking shape.
There may still be internal challenges and differences within the HCA. There may still be questions about influence and power. But if women’s cricket is receiving greater attention, more opportunities and a more transparent platform, then that is something every parent and every aspiring cricketer should welcome.
The direction appears right. The opportunity is expanding. Now, the challenge is to sustain the momentum and ensure that merit remains at the heart of the process.
As a parent, that is all I ask.
And for now, I am genuinely happy to see women’s cricket in Hyderabad moving in the right direction. (The views expressed by the Parent, who has chosen to withhold his name in the interests of his daughter, are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of this e-paper.)
