The national women’s cricket team returned home from Thailand on Thursday after participating in the International Cricket Council Women’s World Cup Asia Region Qualifier. While this feat was supposed to generate a frisson of excitement among aficionados in the country, the opposite happened. In stark contrast to the celebratory response the men’s team received on its return, not a single sports official was present at Tribhuvan International Airport to welcome the women’s team. There was no media either. The men in red have been the cynosure of all eyes, but the reaction of the authorities and the public to the women in red have so far been insouciant.

The women’s cricket team finished second in the qualifier. The tournament played in the single round-robin format sent only the table toppers into the Global Qualifiers for the 2020 ICC T20 World Cup and 2021 ICC 50-over World Cup. Thailand defeated Nepal in the final round, but it is remarkable that women’s cricket has blazed such a trail in Nepal despite overwhelming odds in terms of lack of institutional support, corporate sponsorship, and public interest. But there, rising against all odds almost meant nothing for National Sports Council Member Secretary Keshav Kumar Bista and Vice-President Pitamber Timsina. On February 4, the airport was flooded with sports officials when the men’s cricket team returned home from their maiden One Day International and Twenty20 International Series victory.

But it is not just cricket. Most women’s sports have been cornered in Nepal like in most parts of the world. For example, Exhibit A, the All Nepal Football Association is set to receive at least $1.2 million from the Asian Football Association for a period of four years starting 2019. This football season it offered Rs5 million to the men’s league champions Manang Marshyangdi Club, while the women’s league champions Nepal Armed Police Force Club received only Rs200,000 last year.

The rise of the women’s team shows that it has smashed gender barriers besides demonstrating extraordinary perseverance and commitment. It cannot have been easy to keep at the game and improve quite so much in an atmosphere of indifference. The women cricketers do not enjoy the fanfare or the generous financial rewards that the men’s cricket team does. Yet, their achievements so far means that, given the opportunity, they can rise to the occasion, with much confidence and flair, just like their male counterparts.

The achievement by the women’s cricket team in the ICC Women’s World Cup Asia Region Qualifier should wake us up to the fact that women’s sports must be encouraged at the national level by providing girls and women opportunities and facilities to train, compete and hone their skills so that they can compete in international competitions. This means more investment from both the government and the private sector in sports facilities, tournaments and equipment for women. It will be a long time before women’s cricket enjoys the near cult status that the men’s game does. Nonetheless, it should be taken as a serious sport which can also be a career option for many young women. This will bring in more accolades for the country.