NAGPUR: In the 90s, a man in a dark blazer wearing sunglasses would often be seen at the Western Coalfields Limited ground. He would silently watch young girls rubbing shoulders with boys. As the ICC and BCCI were yet to take women’s cricket under their wings, there was a separate body running the show.
At a time when no one cared whether girls played cricket or not, advocate HCV Baba Rocque single-handedly ran women’s cricket in the region. Rocque stood like a rock for young girls who dreamt of donning national colours. Once BCCI took over the reigns of women’s cricket, Rocque, a life member of the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA), silently went behind the scenes and let them run the show.
On Thursday, Rocque passed away at 82, leaving several women cricketers of the 90s mourning the loss. Former India opener Monica Sumra termed it “a personal loss” and hailed the contribution of Rocque. He was vice-president of Vidarbha Women’s Cricket Association and also the vice-president of Women Cricket Association of India.
“Around 40-50 girls started playing at the WCL ground because of him. There was no support for us. He used to arrange everything for us, from sponsors to tickets for outstation matches. For three years, we were junior national champions. He used to push us a lot. He would always motivate us to play professionally by saying, ‘You people can play for Air India or Railways’. It’s a big loss for players of the 90s,” Sumra, who represented India in all the three formats, told TOI.
Rocque had organized an inter-school cricket tournament for girls in the late 80s and early 90s. “It was very hard to do that in those days, especially with no sponsor coming forward but nothing could deter him. He would run from pillar to post to get everything for the girls,” added Sumra.
Another former Vidarbha cricketer, who didn’t want to be named, also remembered Rocque for keeping alive women’s cricket. “He was a man with a vision, one who never discriminated between girls and boys. Maybe because he had three daughters. He made us believe in ourselves. He did a lot for women’s cricket when no one really cared about it. It wasn’t easy to organize women’s matches those days with no facilities whatsoever,” she said.
“Very few parents would send their daughters to play cricket. He had to do a lot of convincing to let parents allow their daughters to play. From watering the wickets, preparing the ground, lifting the mat, cleaning the WCL ground or getting water from a far off place, we did everything to play,” she added.
To boost their confidence, Rocque once made them officiate in the inter-school boys’ matches. “During DSO boys matches played at the WCL ground, he made two teenage girls officiate the match. When the boys had a fight during the game, both the girls handled the situation very well. It was all because of Sir,” she said.
“He loved to travel and explore new places. Whenever the Vidarbha team was on tour, we would surely get to explore the city with him while walking. He made us walk together and that helped in team bonding. Team meetings were always to the point. He kept things simple so that the girls could enjoy playing cricket rather than feeling the pressure,” another cricketer said.
At a time when no one cared whether girls played cricket or not, advocate HCV Baba Rocque single-handedly ran women’s cricket in the region. Rocque stood like a rock for young girls who dreamt of donning national colours. Once BCCI took over the reigns of women’s cricket, Rocque, a life member of the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA), silently went behind the scenes and let them run the show.
On Thursday, Rocque passed away at 82, leaving several women cricketers of the 90s mourning the loss. Former India opener Monica Sumra termed it “a personal loss” and hailed the contribution of Rocque. He was vice-president of Vidarbha Women’s Cricket Association and also the vice-president of Women Cricket Association of India.
“Around 40-50 girls started playing at the WCL ground because of him. There was no support for us. He used to arrange everything for us, from sponsors to tickets for outstation matches. For three years, we were junior national champions. He used to push us a lot. He would always motivate us to play professionally by saying, ‘You people can play for Air India or Railways’. It’s a big loss for players of the 90s,” Sumra, who represented India in all the three formats, told TOI.
Rocque had organized an inter-school cricket tournament for girls in the late 80s and early 90s. “It was very hard to do that in those days, especially with no sponsor coming forward but nothing could deter him. He would run from pillar to post to get everything for the girls,” added Sumra.
Another former Vidarbha cricketer, who didn’t want to be named, also remembered Rocque for keeping alive women’s cricket. “He was a man with a vision, one who never discriminated between girls and boys. Maybe because he had three daughters. He made us believe in ourselves. He did a lot for women’s cricket when no one really cared about it. It wasn’t easy to organize women’s matches those days with no facilities whatsoever,” she said.
“Very few parents would send their daughters to play cricket. He had to do a lot of convincing to let parents allow their daughters to play. From watering the wickets, preparing the ground, lifting the mat, cleaning the WCL ground or getting water from a far off place, we did everything to play,” she added.
To boost their confidence, Rocque once made them officiate in the inter-school boys’ matches. “During DSO boys matches played at the WCL ground, he made two teenage girls officiate the match. When the boys had a fight during the game, both the girls handled the situation very well. It was all because of Sir,” she said.
“He loved to travel and explore new places. Whenever the Vidarbha team was on tour, we would surely get to explore the city with him while walking. He made us walk together and that helped in team bonding. Team meetings were always to the point. He kept things simple so that the girls could enjoy playing cricket rather than feeling the pressure,” another cricketer said.