Women's cricket has progressed slowly: Anuradha Dutt

There are a few who are inclined to serve the game after their playing days are over. Though the lawyer in her took precedence in her career soon after her playing days, Anuradha Dutt has managed to keep in touch with women's cricket and is now serving as the secretary of the Women's Cricket Association of India. Anuradha spoke to CricInfo's Natarajan Sriram on some of the pertinent points regarding the game.

NS: Your thoughts on the present state of affairs of women's cricket in India?

AD:: The progress of women's cricket here has been slow and steady. It has been only 27 years and already we have been compared with men's cricket, which is more than 100 years old. It means that the women's game is well known. But then we started in 1973 with just a handful of people. In the domestic scene we have about 18 to 19 affiliated states and they all have their own system in running the game. India has been doing well in the last ten years in the international scene. We have defeated the best teams like England, Australia and New Zealand at various times in the last seven or eight years and today we are strong contenders for the World Cup. I feel the game has progressed but a little slowly. I hope that in another 20 to 25 years, we will achieve what women's tennis has probably achieved - to be recognised as a women's game.

NS: Cricket has changed a lot over the years and especially the women's game. Men's cricket of late has availed itself of hugh amounts of sponsorship. But what has been the sponsors' scene with regard to womens cricket?

AD:: Women's cricket does not have the kind of sponsorship that men's cricket has. But it is not only women's cricket but most of the other sports which even men play do not seem to attract sponsorship. It is just that men's cricket is something very unique and all other sports are not so popular. Only very recently, golf has been getting a good amount of sponsorship money. As such, women's cricket is in the same bracket and is still finding hard to get sponsorship.

NS: Talking about the forthcoming World Cup in New Zealand, what about the preparation that is going on as far as India is concerned?

AD:: The Women's Cricket Association of India is in the process of selecting the team. We have already selected the top 35 girls in the country and have conducted the first camp. The second is to be held from September 8 at Chandigarh and soon after we propose to conduct a tournament. We would then short list about 20 probables. These players would be attending two more camps before the team is shortlisted.

NS: How do you rate India's chances in the World Cup?

AD:: As I told you before, the top four teams are England, Australia, New Zealand and India. According to me it is Australia and India who are the strongest contenders for the title and the rest depends on the performances of our players.