For the first time in Hyderabad women's cricket, five cricketers – Mithali Raj, Diana David, Gouher Sultana, Sunita Anand (wk) and Mamata Kanojia – are in the Indian team for the forthcoming tour to West Indies (three ODIs and five T-20s).
For, the 23-year-old stumper Sunita this will be her maiden international tour.
And, it is a remarkable story of triumph over adversity as her passion for the game saw her brush aside the personal tragedy of losing her father which also meant her mother taking care of her with her meagre school teacher's salary.
“It is a great feeling to be in the Indian team. I owe a lot to Dorai Sir (Mithali's father who also doubles up as a coach for many girls here) and N. S. Ganesh of Andhra Bank,” says Sunita, yet to make her debut unlike the other four. “Being under the tutelage of Abdul Bari Wahab, the Hyderabad women's coach also made all the difference.
What is remarkable is that there are no regular women's cricket tournaments in and around the city yet the State team finished runner-up in the all India one-day trophy and third in the All India T-20 format. The efforts of Vidya Yadav, BCCI convenor of women's cricket (South Zone) and HCA's generosity in allowing them to train at Gymkhana grounds were a big help, point out the players.
“It is a great feeling to have five players from the city. We are ready for the challenge in West Indies,” exclaims ex-India captain Mithali Raj. “I hope this will usher in a new chapter for women's cricket,” remarked Mr. Wahab. The girls are on a high.
