Former India captain and trailblazer Diana Edulji emphasised the need for parallel growth in men's and women's cricket while celebrating the enduring legacy of the Times Cricket Shield. Speaking at the tournament's 94th prize distribution ceremony in Mumbai on Friday, Edulji highlighted the tournament's role as a bedrock for the sport.
A Legacy That Built Careers and Families
Edulji, now an advisor to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), called the Times Shield "a foundation stone of Indian cricket." This sentiment was echoed by MCA president Ajinkya Naik, who revealed the tournament's profound socio-economic impact. "Around 2,500 to 3,000 families are supported because of the Times Shield and the MCA," Naik stated, underscoring how the corporate tournament has sustained cricketers for generations.
Former BCCI chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty added historical context, recalling how the Shield allowed fans to watch Indian stars play for their companies, a concept that later inspired the BCCI Corporate League. All speakers reinforced the deep, inseparable link between the tournament and Mumbai's cricketing DNA.
From Vision to Reality: The Road to WPL
The event became a platform to acknowledge Edulji's pivotal role in advancing women's cricket. Ratnakar Shetty credited her efforts during her stint with the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA), noting that player concerns raised in 2017 were addressed swiftly, setting a new tone.
Edulji's work during that period was instrumental in bringing women's cricket into sharper focus. This phase laid the groundwork for the Women's Premier League (WPL), beginning with the landmark Women's T20 Challenge at Wankhede Stadium in 2018. "The WPL is a testament to what vision and opportunity can achieve," Edulji remarked. "The Times Cricket Shield, with its legacy, can similarly inspire young girls."
Blueprint for a Women's Corporate League
Building on this vision, concrete plans for women's cricket were announced. MCA president Ajinkya Naik declared that the association would collaborate with the Times Shield to launch a women's corporate league. Furthermore, the MCA plans to institute a women's T20 league, modelled on the successful T20 Mumbai League for men.
Edulji, the chief guest at the ceremony hosted by the Times of India Group, expressed hope that a women's tournament mirroring the Shield's format would be established. The event was supported by John Distilleries Pvt Ltd and Milestone Merchandise Pvt Ltd as partners.
The ceremony also honoured the winners across various divisions of the Times Shield. The champions list is as follows:
A Division: Winner: Mumbai Customs SC. Runner-up: Bank of Baroda, Mumbai. Fast scoring team: Mumbai Customs SC. Best Bowler: Tanush Kotian (Income Tax). Best batsman: Rohan Kadam (Bank of Baroda).
B Division: Winner: Indian Navy Sports Control Cell. Runner-up: DTDC Sports Club, Mumbai. Fast scoring team: Mumbai Port Trust SC 'A'. Best Bowler: Shreyas Gurav (DTDC SC). Best batsman: Shaun Rodrigues (Nanavati Hospital).
C Division: Winner: Jain Irrigation B. Runner-up: Reliance Group SC. Fast scoring team: Western Railway SA 'B'. Best Bowler: Shubham Sharma (Jain Irrigation B). Best batsman: Prateek Yadav (Jain Irrigation B).
D Division: Winner: Merck SC. Runner-up: Tata Steel (Wire Div) SC. Fast scoring team: Kokilaben Hospital. Best Bowler: Atharva Dakway (Merck SC). Best batsman: Ihsaan Amin (Kokilaben Hospital).
E Division: Winner: WNS Global. Runner-up: Central Bank RC. Fast scoring team: Satellite Developers CC. Best Bowler: Samek Jagtap (Central Bank RC). Best batsman: Ashutosh Ghagre (WNS).
F Division: Winner: Cipla SC B. Runner-up: Beenet Communication. Fast scoring team: Beenet Communication. Best Bowler: Shashikant Kadam (TMC). Best batsman: Pratik Gharat (Agribid SC).
Qualifier Division: Winner: Krystal Group. Runner-up: IndusInd Bank Ltd.
