The 11th edition of Women's World Cup, which is currently underway in England, is proving to be an exciting affair with leading female cricketers from around the globe giving it their all in pursuit of glory.
With only a few games into the tournament, we have already seen record books being rewritten. Highly competitive games have made sure the Women's World Cup is among the most talked-about sporting events at the moment.
Right from Smriti Mandhana's back-to-back match-winning knocks, to the record-breaking match in Bristol between Sri Lanka and Australia — in which Chamari Atapattu smashed 178, the third-highest score in women's ODI, which was followed shortly with a match-winning 152 by Australian skipper Meg Lanning — there has been no dearth of quality cricket and entertainment in the tournament.
The International Cricket Council, in its efforts to help women's cricket match the hype around men's game, had doubled the prize money of the ongoing quadrennial event and also announced all the matches will be broadcast live for the first time.
Amidst all the positivity surrounding the elite tournament, Pakistan cricket legend Waqar Younis stunned the cricket fraternity when he called for a shorter format for the Women's World Cup. In a Tweet, the pacer said the competition should have 30 overs an innings and quoted the example of tennis, in which women's singles has three sets compared to five in men's game.
Waqar though was quick to clarify that he meant no discrimination or prejudice towards women's cricket, but that he had only suggested to make the game more competitive and attractive.
@ICC What abt having 30 overs Cricket World Cup 4 Women???Like Tennis 3 sets rather then 5 #Suggestion I feel 50 overs r few 2many #WWCUP17
— waqar younis (@waqyounis99) June 29, 2017
Lesser overs mean faster pace,, more audience,,competitive Cricket,,no discrimination or prejudice toward Women #AlwaysRespectWomen #WWCUP17 https://t.co/LHeSmK1k26
— waqar younis (@waqyounis99) June 30, 2017
However, the thread did not go down well with the cricket fraternity. While a few mocked and ridiculed Waqar's suggestion, others, inclduing Australia women's team wicketkeeper batsman Alyssa Healy, took the help of statistics to disagree with the former Pakistan skipper.
Haha so what you're saying is that 530 runs in a 50 over game isn't entertaining?! With two of the best innings anyone has seen.....
— Alyssa Healy (@ahealy77) July 1, 2017
Hey, Waqar! They have this already. It's called T20 and there's even a whole World Cup! Was held last year in India & the West Indies won. https://t.co/1MsgnNWXgQ
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) July 1, 2017
Tbf maybe they should just have one over. You know, to give the little ladies a go and all. ? https://t.co/sJN5hHqMmQ
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) July 1, 2017
Chamari Atapattu has literally just played the best innings in the history of the sport, made possible and special because she had 50 overs. https://t.co/3b8t0jsxa5
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) July 1, 2017
Women have this Waqar - been playing a T20 World Cup since 2009.... (1/3)
— AlisonMitchell (@AlisonMitchell) July 2, 2017
For context, Pakistan women only played their 1st ODI in 1997, nearly 20 yrs after India (1/2)...
— AlisonMitchell (@AlisonMitchell) July 2, 2017
... (2/2) Pak may not be as strong as Aus/Eng/Ind/NZ over 50 overs, but with right support, infrastructure & time they will be.
— AlisonMitchell (@AlisonMitchell) July 2, 2017
