On Sunday, Indian women’s cricket skipper Mithali Raj was asked whether she was ever been approached by a bookie or someone to fix a match, during the International Cricket Council (ICC) five-day meeting in Kolkata. She was there as a ‘special invitee’ as the ICC’s quarterly meeting began with discussions on women’s cricket.

Talking about the same, an ICC official said, “She was here for a small part during the meeting. She was asked whether she has encountered any instances of match-fixing. She said she has not till date.”

Since Under-19 and women’s matches are getting more and more television coverage, ICC wants to take precautionary measures. ICC wants more and more live coverage of women’s game and hence the need for checks and balances. Before any ICC event, even the U-19 and women’s teams have to attend the classes of the ICC integrity unit on how to tackle corrupt approaches. 

Mithali also pointed out some of the significant changes the women’s game had undergone in the last decade. She said, “This is the beginning of good times for women’s cricket, what happened in the World Cup and the way people now see women’s cricket as a viable sport. There is no longer any ignorance about the women’s game, cricket talk is not limited to the men’s game or among men’s fans. The reach is now there, so the common man can see women’s cricket and we are breaking viewership records and it is important we continue that interest.”

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Mithali further hailed the stand-alone women’s events and said, “Double-headers were important at first but no matter how good the women’s cricket, it was always overshadowed by the men. At a stand-alone tournament, you own the stage and it’s another opportunity to promote the game on a larger platform.”

Day two of the forum continues with the focus on sharing best practice and growing of the number of women and girls in cricket.