'This is the beginning of good times for women's cricket.'
The celebrations after the 2017 World Cup went on for the next few months. But there was one question that the Indian cricketers failed to respond to in their interviews. 'What was their next assignment?' Nobody knew; the players were waiting for the BCCI to tell them. The BCCI, with barely any time from its endless legal tangles, had nothing in mind immediately. The likes of Australia and England were back on the field, battling it out in the Ashes in front of sizeable crowds. But for Mithali Raj and team, there was no road ahead.
England stormed into the final of the ICC Women's World Twenty20 after an all-round effort gave them a convincing seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the first semi-final in Colombo, on Thursday.
India are set to face Pakistan in their opener of the World Cup on March 6
Mandhana returned as the highest run-getter in the T20 series, amassing 180 runs from three games at an average of 60, including two half-centuries.
New Zealand's abrupt decision to pull out of their cricket tour of Pakistan has created "an unfortunate scenario" but the hosts know how to overcome such crises, the chairman of the country's cricket board Ramiz Raja said.
A desperate Indian women's team would aim to snap its five-match losing streak in the second T20 International against England, in Guwahati, on Thursday.
The International Cricket Council joined millions across the globe in celebrating Women's Day on Saturday, a global celebration of the achievements of women that has been celebrated since the early 20th century.
Former India captain Anjum Chopra, who is poised to play a fourth successive World Cup in Australia next month, says brutal strength is the basic difference between men's and women's cricket.
At one stage, New Zealand and Royal Challengers Bangalore all-rounder Sophie Devine even made a plea for pushing back the boundary limits.
Women's cricket team captain Maia Lewis said her team is performing up to expectations and is looking forward to the five-match series.
India were already in semi-finals after winning their first three matches but didn't let the intensity down against the formidable 'Southern Stars' in an inconsequential last group league encounter.
Suryakumar beat the likes of Sam Curran, Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan and Zimbabwe's batting all-rounder Sikandar Raza for the top honour.
Defending champions Australia handed Bangladesh an 8-wicket loss to climb to the top of the table in the ongoing edition of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup.
Smriti Mandhana isn't actually known to be the most prolific T20 player -- her career T20 International average of 27.32 is middling at best. There have been failures too, but her ability to analyse and assess them honestly is a rarity in modern sport.
Jhulan Goswami achieved the feat against NZ when she dismissed wicketkeeper Katey Martin in the 50th over.
The Netherlands came out top in a sudden death shootout against Germany on Wednesday to go into the final of the Olympic women's hockey tournament and keep the target of a third successive gold medal in their sights.
India witnessed a disappointing start to its campaign at the World Women's Team Squash Championship as they were crushed 0-3 by top seed and title-favourite Egypt in their opening Pool A league match, in Paris on Monday.
Rani Rampal will captain an 18-strong Indian women's team, while experienced goalkeeper Savita will shoulder the duties of vice-captain at next month's Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games Federation drew flak after media reports said Maroof's daughter had been denied accreditation
'I didn't like that most of the teams have opted for foreign players as captains because it's an Indian league'
Pakistan women's cricket team captain Bismah Maroof has decided against skipping the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham despite the organisers denying accreditation to her infant daughter
For ICC Women's Player of the Decade, Ellyse Perry (Australia), Meg Lanning (Australia), Suzie Bates (New Zealand), Stafanie Taylor (West Indies), Mithali Raj (India), Sarah Taylor (England) have been nominated.
Away from the hype surrounding the men's tournament, the Women's World Twenty20 will start in Galle on Wednesday but India's campaign will kick off a day later when they take on Australia on Thursday.
The future of stalwarts Mithali and Jhulan Goswami have been a subject of debate
The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs proposes to introduce the scheme to start with in US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain -- the places from where such cases are mostly reported.
Hubbard, 43, competed in men's weightlifting competitions before transitioning in 2013.
Australia is weighing up a bid to host the 2023 Asian Cup following China's decision to step away as original hosts
All that's transpired on and off the cricket pitch on Saturday.
Three-times Grand Slam champion Barty received her award three months after retiring from professional tennis at the age of 25.
History beckons the Indian women's cricket team when it takes on England in the ICC World Cup final in London on Sunday, aiming to cap a fairytale run with a maiden title triumph and put some past demons to rest.
Not a single Indian cricketer featured in the ICC Women's World Cup team of the tournament even as players from Australia and England dominated the list announced in Mumbai on Monday.
New Zealand women's cricket team dismissed Mumbai President's XI
Lisa Sthalekar scored an unbeaten 58 off 80 balls as Australia won the women's World Series match by nine wickets.
India crushed the West Indies by eight wickets in Sydney on Thursday but the result was not good enough to ensure them a place in Sunday's final at the ICC Women's World Cup. Chasing a timid target of 84 at the Bankstown Oval, the Indians romped home with 193 balls to spare with opener Sulakshana Naik (39 0ff 48) and in-form Mithali Raj (34 off 41) doing the bulk of the scoring.
Hubbard, who competed in men's competitions before transitioning in 2013, is set to become the first transgender athlete to compete at the Tokyo Olympics
Several women's football teams on Wednesday, including Britain, New Zealand, the United States and Sweden took the knee
Canada took a deep breath on Thursday and prepared for their moment in the Women's World Cup spotlight.
'They have got tremendous depth in their squad, the big guns are back and they are a quality outfit under the leadership of Virat Kohli.'
Batting sensation Shafali Verma will chase history when she leads India against England in the first-ever ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup final on Sunday.
