Sri Lankan Women Cricketers seek jobs in Security Forces, No sponsor from Board
The distraught women cricketers of Sri Lanka are eager to join security forces to manifest their athletic skills as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 Cricket (SLC) has proved to be unable to get sponsorships for them to play the game.
According to a report by the national media of Sri Lanka, almost 27 players have joined the military, and, the remaining three, hope to get jobs soon.
Out of the 30 women cricketers of national team, 14 have joined the air force while 13 entered the navy.
Talking to local media, the team skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hettimulla-Appuhamilage-Shashikala-Dedunu-Siriwardene-c63126, said, “I hope all 30 members of the national pool will soon find jobs in the security forces”.
She further said, “The cricketers will be playing for the army, navy, and, air force cricket teams and have the freedom to train for our national commitments”.
Cricket for women is not a socially acceptable choice in Sri Lanka. Neither the cricket fans nor the sponsors find any charm in the cricket of the fairer s*x.
Thus, Women’s Cricket is always neglected and the national team does not have full-time players, as the board denies them salaries, and, facilities equal to the men cricketers.
Most of the women players in Sri Lanka do part time jobs to earn a livelihood. Thus, they are unable to pay full attention to the game.
The SLC launched a marketing campaign last year to find some sponsors for women’s national cricket team but in vain.
Despite the fact that the Lankans claim to be a cricketing nation, it is still hard for the board to get even a single sponsor for the team.
Disappointed by this situation, the women players have opted for the armed forces to get both the game opportunities and earn a livelihood.
Sri Lanka’s women’s cricket team appeared on the international stage in 1997. They finished up 2004, 2005 and 2006 editions of Asia Cup as runners-up.
Out of the 57 ODIs played so far, they have won 29 and lost 27.
They recently lost a quadrangular home series.
Analysts suggest that the women players of Sri Lanka have great potential to perform well if they are provided with proper financial, technical, and, logistical facilities.
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