WCAI presses optimistic button about BCCI merger

Pune :There is very little that can go wrong for women's cricket in India at the moment. Riding a new high following India's maiden World Cup final appearance in South Africa, women's cricket is set for better things not just cricket-wise but organisationally as well.

Made to carry out its affairs for the most part due lack of adequate funds, the Women's Cricket Association of India (WCAI) may finally have something to smile about.

In what could be music to the ears of many connected with the game, the women's cricket body is expected to be merged with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in a year's time.

Talking to ThatsCricket.com Shubhangi Kulkarni, secretary of the Women's Cricket Association of India (WCAI) said she was optimistic that the WCAI's merger with BCCI would come about by next year.

"We have been given a year's extension by the ICC to run the affairs of the game on our own till April 2006. During this period we are hopeful that the merger with the BCCI would come through," she said.

Kulkarni, who was nominated as Asia's representative of the special committee formed by ICC during the recently held Women's World Cup in South Africa said that WCAI has kept communication lines open with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in this regard and are awaiting a response from the latter.

"We are in touch with the BCCI officials on a regular basis. We are just awaiting for their response," she said.

The former India captain was tight-lipped about whether BCCI would be prompt enough in merging itself with the WCAI.

"I guess you have to ask these question to BCCI. I'm not in a position to comment on anything," Kulkarni added. It may be recalled that the International Women's Cricket Council (IWCC), at its annual general body meeting held during the 2005 World Cup in South Africa, had approved the proposed amalgamation with the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has formally taken over the responsibility of organising and conducting the women's cricket matches.