Mithali Raj requests BCCI for more women’s Tests

Indian women set to play their first Test in eight years

"It is sad that there are so few Test matches in women’s cricket and I hope the Boards come together and organise more Test matches for women," Mithali Raj said. File Photo: V V Subrahmanyam

India’s top woman cricketer Mithali Raj has urged the BCCI to organise more Test matches for the national women team, which is set to play its first five-day match in eight years when they tour England in August. The Test match in England will be their first since 2006.

Mithali, 31, has played 148 ODIs since making her debut in 1999 but has featured in only eight Tests.

“We are touring England in August and we are playing one Test. Though I have scored 214 in a Test match, I am playing a Test after eight long years. It is sad that there are so few Test matches in women’s cricket and I hope the Boards come together and organise more Test matches for women,” said the former women’s captain here.

“As an experienced cricketer, I would take some time to prepare my temperament and preparation needed for Test cricket,” she said.

The right-hander stressed that the takeover of Indian women’s cricket by the BCCI had proven to be beneficial but also had its flip side like a short-duration domestic season.

She also asked BCCI to follow the example of the other Boards and offer centralised contracts to the Indian women players.

“As far as I know we are the only team which does not have a central contract with the national board. I don’t know what is holding it up but it would be good if it happens because it would give security to players, who do not have a secure job,” she added.