At a time when women cricketers are getting access to better and more facilities, and when a small start has been made in terms of central contracts for the top Indian women cricketers, one cannot forget the innumerable players, who are more or less unknown, but have been an integral part of its history. Not to be forgotten are the countless people without whom playing the game would be impossible―the umpires, coaches, scorers and groundsmen ensuring the show goes on.
Cricket fans in India and outside are now avidly following the exploits of Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues but there is an entire generation or two of women cricketers who have never received any acknowledgment from either the cricket board or the state associations. While pioneers such as Diana Edulji or Shubhangi Kulkarni are well-known, the names of Surekha Bhandare and Aparna Kambli remain in obscurity.
Mumbai has been the nursery of Indian cricket and has a strong grassroots cricket culture, with many unknown, unseen and unheard men and women contributing to the sport for the sheer love of it. Mumbai-based Cricketers’ Foundation, a public charitable trust set up to support retired cricketers, coaches, umpires, scorers and groundsmen, has been instrumental in bringing these people to the fore.
The Foundation recently extended support to former women cricketers of Mumbai―Surekha Bhandare, who played 127 first-class matches, Sandhya Relekar, who figured in 139 first-class games, and Aparna Kambli, who played in 69 first-class contests. They received contributions in the range of Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000.
Surekha Bhandare; Aparna Kambli | Sourced Images
An elated Kambli couldn’t hold back her delight at having been finally acknowledged for all her cricketing efforts. Over 60 years old now, she played for Railways but could not make it to the Indian team. She retired from Western Railways and then took up coaching. Kambli said it’s not about the money but the recognition.
“After a state award―the Shiva Chatrapati award in 1995―this is the only recognition I have received. Our age group of women players are so used to being ignored, that it didn’t matter. We just carried on doing what we loved,” she said, adding that after taking VRS from her job at the Western Railways, she gave cricket her full-time attention.
Kambli was the coach of Rajasthan senior women’s and Under-22 team till last season. As no women’s domestic competitive cricket has taken place, she waits to see whether her contract will be renewed. She previously coached the Mumbai Under-19 team but then came a hiatus with no coaching assignments coming her way.
“I am really thankful to the Cricketers’ Foundation for acknowledging my contribution to cricket since the year 1981 till now, as a player as well as a coach. This is the first time someone thought of players like us, who knocked at the doors but unfortunately couldn’t make it to the top, that is, the Indian squad,” Kambli said.
Former India captain and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar, elated at the gesture, said, “The three cricketers―Sandhya Relekar, Surekha Bhandare and Aparna Kambli―have been among those who have paved the way for today’s outstanding women cricketers and it’s most heartening to see the Foundation recognising their efforts. I would like to congratulate them and the trustees for their forward thinking.”
Surekha Bhandare, a contemporary of the Edluji sisters, started her career in 1974 and was involved till 2005. She played state cricket post-marriage, with her husband and-in laws encouraging her to do so. There was no remuneration those days for playing any cricket at any level. She has been a coach and also a senior women’s team selector. She coached at the University from 1983-2011.
“Cricketers’ Foundation should be complimented for acknowledging the efforts of old women cricketers of Mumbai. I am grateful to them, the fact that they remembered us, gave us recognition,” said Bhandare.
Cricketers’ Foundation has thus far helped more than 40 people in Mumbai cricket. The Foundation raised these funds with the help of 200 unique donors. A brainchild of veteran cricket writer Makarand Waigankar, the Foundation has on its board Dr Shailesh V. Shrikhande, Deputy Director of Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, former Mumbai cricketer and CEO of a luxury lifestyle brand Amit Gadkari, former first class cricketer from Mumbai and presently CEO of a leading private sector financial services company Salil Datar and Abhijit Sanzghiri, a leading Chartered Accountant. Many top cricketers like Ravi Shastri, Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa have come forward and helped the foundation raise funds.
The main goal of the foundation is to “raise a corpus to extend a helping hand to those who have contributed to Mumbai cricket, having dedicated their working life for the love of the game. Many Mumbai cricketers are now over 70 years of age and face financial challenges. They were at their peak when there was no money in the game. Now, not only are they not covered by insurance, but they are without a source of income too in these testing times,” said Waigankar.
