'Shame on BCCI' - Fans disappointed as India Women's tour of Sri Lanka won't get televised

The online broadcasters for the India Women’s tour of Sri Lanka were announced a few hours before the first game of the T20I series scheduled at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium in Dambulla. India are touring Sri Lanka for three T20Is followed by as many ODIs as the Women in Blue return to international cricket for the first time since the conclusion of their World Cup campaign.

While the fans were joyous after getting to know about the series, there was an equal level of disappointment as no big broadcasting giant took up the rights for televising the game. Until June 22 evening, there was no official announcement by either of the boards about the telecasting rights and the live streaming of the games. The tour is set to begin on June 23 with the first T20I match set to begin at 2:30 PM IST. However, the fans were disappointed after learning that the six games between the two national sides will not be telecast on TV.

Live streaming platforms announced, no TV Broadcasters

They were dissatisfied that no broadcasters had picked up the event. Twitter users criticized BCCI for not taking up an initiative for the Indian women’s team, since the board is expected to get INR 48,390 crore from the sale of the IPL broadcast rights. It then came to notice that the games will be streamed by Sri Lanka Cricket’s (SLC) official YouTube channel as the board announced the same on their Twitter handle on Wednesday, June 22, evening as they tweeted:

“India Women Tour of Sri Lanka 2022, 3 T20Is & 3 ODIs, from 23rd June to 7th July. Catch the action LIVE on Sri Lanka Cricket YOUTUBE and ThePapare platforms.”

India Women Tour of Sri Lanka 2022, 3 T20Is & 3 ODIs, from 23rd June to 7th July.

👀 Catch the action LIVE on Sri Lanka Cricket YOUTUBE and ThePapare platforms ⬇️#SLvIND #SLWomens pic.twitter.com/3uP4chbFFR

— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) June 22, 2022

On Thursday, June 23, at midnight, FanCode made an announcement on their Twitter account about streaming the series for free on their app. Their tweet read:

“The wait is finally over! And we’ve got something better in store! How will the Women in Blue fare against the Sri Lankan lionesses on their home soil? Watch all the action FOR FREE from @BCCIWomen tour of @OfficialSLC LIVE on #FanCode.”

The wait is finally over! And we've got something better in store!🤩

How will the Women in Blue fare against the Sri Lankan lionesses on their home soil?🤔

Watch all the action FOR FREE from @BCCIWomen tour of @OfficialSLC LIVE on #FanCode👉https://t.co/324zYTfups
.
.#SLvIND pic.twitter.com/iUyaenWM3f

— FanCode (@FanCode) June 22, 2022

The Indian side will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur, with opening batter Smriti Mandhana appointed as her deputy. It will be a crucial series for the Women in Blue as they gear up for the Commonwealth Games that is set to begin next month in Birmingham. As India has a strong and powerful lineup, it will be interesting to see which player emerges as the star of the show out of the lot.

Shame on bcci

— SavageCreature (@SavageCreature) June 22, 2022

Two cricketing boards making a mockery of women cricket. Women cricket deserve broadcast publicity and promotions. Sad! #SLvIND

— Karamdeep 🎥📱 (@oyeekd) June 22, 2022

If indw win any icc trophy broadcasters will be in queue. Pls girls win Commonwealth Games Or t20wc for ur well being. Indw didn't reached semifinals recent wc, no broadcasters showing support to telecast the matches. #slwindw #slvind

— Sugu (@vasugi29) June 22, 2022

With just few hours to go for the series between India Women and Sri Lanka Women, there is no official update from both cricketing boards. How pathetic!

Fans in India struggling to know if #SLvIND series will be broadcast in India or not?

— Karamdeep 🎥📱 (@oyeekd) June 22, 2022

Sad to see no broadcaster for India's tour to Sri Lanka! 😐 #SLvIND #SLWvINDW

— Eden Kasukar (@CaptainEden25) June 23, 2022

They wanna take a step forward with Womens IPL next year, and then takes 2 steps backwards with no tv telecast of international matches. 🤦‍♂️ #SLvIND

— Yash (@nayanTarse_) June 23, 2022

#SLvIND on which channel ?

— DIVYANSH¹⁷ ॐ (@ImDivyansh_17) June 23, 2022

Never have seen such a drama-suspense over broadcaster of an international cricket series, hours before the start of 1st game. And, I will bring gender here! Something like this wouldn't have happened if this was a men's series.

TY @Fancode You're special! ❤️#SLvIND #SLWvINDW

— Anshul Gupta (@oyegupta_) June 22, 2022

The #SLvIND streaming details for India emerge at long last:

Indian Women's six-match tour of Sri Lanka will be livestreamed by FanCode in India. Viewers can watch the games "for free".

First T20I begins at 2pm IST today (June 23).

More here👇 #SLWvINDWhttps://t.co/UwYgM7KMuh

— Annesha Ghosh (@ghosh_annesha) June 22, 2022

Thus the drama ends here!! Finally something to cheer about. Thank you fancode for the initiative! #BleedBlue #SlvInd

— Chirasree Chakraborty (@Chirasree) June 22, 2022