Fate plays cruel joke on budding woman cricketer

Fate plays cruel joke on budding woman cricketer
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This is an irony of sorts for Palakurthi Jhansi Laxmi, who longed so hard to represent her country in cricket but had to turn down the offer when it finally happened. 

Warangal: This is an irony of sorts for Palakurthi Jhansi Laxmi, who longed so hard to represent her country in cricket but had to turn down the offer when it finally happened.

She had to forego her dream because she had to choose between two equally important options, government job and donning India colours.

It is not just Khammam’s tribal girl Vadthya Vinoda who got selected from Telangana to play for India in the 1stWomen’s International T20 Cricket Championship-2018, Jhansi of Warangal was also fortunate to get a call from the selectors, a fact that had gone unnoticed.

On May 9, the All India Women Twenty20 Cricket Association (AWTCA) which selected Jhansi and Vinoda told them to report on May 19 confirming their participation in the tourney scheduled from May 21 to 24.

On the other hand, Jhansi was supposed to attend the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC)’s certificate verification process on May 24.

It may be noted here that she was among the 1:2 candidates called for the certificate verification for the post of Physical Education Teachers in various Residential Educational Institutions Societies.

The clash of dates forced her to stay back in hope of getting a government job.

“I tried to make it to Panchkula in Haryana, the venue of the championship, and come back to Hyderabad to attend the TSPSC’s certificate verification on May 24, but logistically it was not possible,” Jhansi, daughter of a Railway locoshed mechanic Sudhakar, told The Hans India.

“I came close to get the national selector’s nod a few times, but it did not happen,” Jhansi, who is in her mid-20s, said.

Those living in rural and small towns rarely get an opportunity, she said.

“However, my focus is on getting a government job, I will continue to play cricket and wait for opportunities,” she added.

Jhansi who did her M Com and M Ped also holds a cricket coaching certificate from National Institute of Sports, Aurangabad.

So far, the allrounder had represented 24 times at national level and had played alongside India Women Cricket captain Mithali Raj for the Railways in 2009-10.

She also participated in the mini IPL held in Jammu in February. With cricket associations paying little attention to women’s cricket, she had to miss several tourneys due to lack of finances.

Although Jhansi missed the Panchkula championship, she has mettle to make force her way into the national team, Md Mateen, Secretary of the Khammam District Women’s Cricket Association said. It may be noted here that Jhansi did her graduation and post-graduation in Khammam.

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