Move over Windies, this time for Sindhis!

Monika Basantani, 42, had just put chopped bananas and milk in the mixer to make the morning shake for the family when a phone call stirred her world. She was told, like hundreds of other women from the affluent Sindhi community in Prayagraj, to prepare for the trials of the newly announced Sindhi Women's Premier League. This happened last month. As luck would have it, both she and her daughter Tanisha, 20, who recently qualified for NEET, got into the league. On Sunday, they both, along with 50 other women players in four teams, made their debut on the DSA Ground in Prayagraj's Lukerganj area after the league was formally inaugurated by former UP minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi. Fitness, age and agility were the primary criteria for selection of aspiring cricketers. This wasn't easy. Most women were unsure and then they had other responsibilities. Many of them manage their houses and help their husbands in running factories and other business establishments. After a lot of trouble and gumption, four women's teams — Plazo Titans, Dental Zone Sindh Fighters, Queen Strikes, and Regal Queens — were finally selected. The teams have been practising at least three to four hours daily at CSA Park and other grounds of the city. Among the hundreds of excited viewers who cheered for the team was Monica's husband Dr Mukesh Basantani, one of the city's most prominent dental surgeons. There are around 10,000 Sindhis living in plush localities of Georgetown, Civil Lines, Tagore Town & Jhulelal Nagar in the city. Most of them are industrialists, businessmen & doctors. Nikhil Malang, president, Prayagraj Sindhi Premier League (PSPL), said, "The concept of women's cricket in PSPL is similar to IPL, wherein every team has its owner as well as a coach." The idea for the league came from Malang's wife Nisha, 39, who is the vice-captain of Regal Queens. PSPL has been holding a men's premier league for the past three years. The Indian women's cricket team's historic world cup win this year inspired the idea for women's participation. "Never did I imagine that after 39 years of life, I would be holding a bat and playing in one of Prayagraj's finest women's leagues," she said. Nikhil Malang expects a crowd of over 7000 for each of these tennis-ball matches. "The event is certainly not ticketed, but we will ensure order and other arrangements," he said. Sunday's matches were certainly very well arranged. The crowds were supportive, and each boundary, or a catch, was accompanied by loud cheers. Most of the selected players are housewives, mothers, or students. The oldest player being Mukta Keswani, 49, who will play alongside her daughter-in-law while the youngest being Sakshi Panjwani, who is just 16. For most of the players, the league is more of a game-changer than just a game. Anjali Chawla, 30, said, "This is the beginning of a new era for Sindhi women here. The game adds wings to us. The tournament will inspire several women from the Sindhi community to bring societal change." Ankita Malang, 37, another player, said, "PSPL is not just a league — it is the Sindhi community standing together for its daughters." Nisha Keswani, a member of Dental Zone Sindh Fighters, while practising for the matches, said, "We have our coaches to train us for batting and bowling despite it being a tennis ball cricket match." Chairman of Prayagraj Sindhi Youth Association Rishi Keswani said, "The reason behind organising women's matches was to spread the message of women empowerment. With these matches, we want to give a clear message that women are also an integral part of the Sindhi community and stand together with their male counterparts." Sindhi men are literally cheerleading for the women's league. Rishi Keswani, a businessman who owns Plazo Titans and whose wife Nisha Keswani plays for the team, said, "Earlier people questioned her passion. Today they came to watch her play." Shailendra Watwani, city's another prominent Sindhi businessman, said, "This league didn't take anything away from our family — it brought pride into it." One of the younger players, Ekta Keswani, who is in her 20s and is a maths major from Mumbai's Jai Hind College, has also made up a rather catchy rap: "Move over Windies, this time for Sindhis!" And it has kind of caught up with the ladies.

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