BCCI shifts Kotla ODI against New Zealand by a day due to ‘Karva Chauth’

The BCCI has decided to shift the third ODI between India and New Zealand from October 19 to 20th due to ‘Karva Chauth’ festival.

The significance of women in Indian sports has taken a leap with PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik bagging India’s only medals at the Rio Olympics.

Senior BCCI and DDCA vice president CK Khanna confirmed the development. (Reuters Photo)

Cricket though is still taking baby steps with women cricketers crying for attention from the BCCI.

The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), where wives and partners of officials are known to be a part of decisions, especially on the sale and supply of tickets and free passes as well as selection of junior teams, seems to be far more aware than the parent body.

In a dispatch to the BCCI, the DDCA has asked the India-New Zealand ODI scheduled at the Ferozeshah Kotla on October 19 to be shifted by a day due to Karva Chauth.

Widely celebrated in North India, married women fast on the day from dawn till the moon rises, and break the fast when their husbands offer the day’s first morsel. The act is for the husbands’ wellbeing.

“We requested the BCCI to shift the match as the festival is celebrated by most families in Delhi and it’ll be difficult for Delhiites to witness the match. Women perform pooja at around 4pm and eat at 7.30 pm. It will be difficult. The BCCI has agreed to our request and will soon make an announcement on shifting the game,” BCCI and DDCA vice-president CK Khanna told HT.

Another one took a jibe at the BCCI that it was reluctant to shift IPL matches out of Maharashtra due to the drought but readily agreed to do it for the festival. “Karva Chauth did it easily what Maharashtra’s worst drought in a century almost failed to do. Shift cricket matches somewhere else.”