Vadodara:
Tarannum Pathan is skipper of under-14 girls' team, the only girls' team to be allowed in the all-boys cricket tourney in Vadodara, Gujarat.
This is the first-ever unisex match to be played under the aegis BCCI.
"We have really practiced hard for this tournament. And we excited that first time at this level a girls' team has been allowed. After playing in the under-14 level, we are hopeful that we will be playing at the under-18 level. Seems little tough but are hoping that we could make to the finals at least," said Tarannum Pathan, Captain.
Coach Tushar Arothe is a former Ranji player. It was at his insistence, the Baroda Cricket Association allowed the girls to play.
"It's a big thing that the girls' team has been allowed. I am grateful to the BCA for allowing the team to play. It's only through these initiatives that we can have a more strong women's team in the country," said Tushar Arothe, Coach.
A nervous boy's team captain said that his boys are ready to give their best shot.
"We were little nervous considering we had never played a girls' team. But I told my boys we cannot be lax, we have to take the match seriously," said Rishav Shah, Captain.
And surely it was no easy match.
Though the girls folded up for 134, they managed to restrict the boys to 18 runs in 13 overs at the end of Day 1.