Mithali bats for women’s IPL

Vijayawada: Indian women’s cricket team skipper Mithali Raj said that women team deserves support on a par with men’s team. She appealed to the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) to organise IPL matches for women’s team as that would encourage the players.

Speaking to the media at the Andhra Cricket Association Cricket Academy at Managalagiri in Guntur district on Wednesday, she said: “I had come here for training under level 1 coach K V Krishna Rao of the National Cricket Academy.”

My aim is to qualify for Women’s World Cup, which will be held in June, 2017 in England. We want to qualify for the tournament as we are in fifth place,” said Mithali. Before commencement of World Cup, the Indian team would play West Indies and Pakistan series. These two are very crucial,” she added.

Indian women’s team should perform well in the West Indies and Pakistan series in order to increase team points, she pointed out. “Top four teams only can get direct entry into World Cup, but we are in fifth place. Hence, Indian team should win the matches to qualify for World Cup,” she made it clear.

Mithali Raj appealed to the BCCI to create one more age group in women’s cricket that would help the players in future. At present women’s cricket has U-16, U-19 and senior groups and if a new team of U-23 group in between U-19 and senior groups is formed that would be of great advantage for the players, she said.ACA Academy level 1 coach KV Krishna Rao and ACA media manager CR Mohan accompanied her.