KSCA introduces monthly pension for former senior women cricketers

Karnataka cricket has taken a significant step toward recognising the contributions of women cricketers who once represented the state at the domestic level. The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has announced a monthly pension scheme for former women cricketers who played in the Senior Women’s National Championship , acknowledging their role in shaping women’s cricket in the state.

The initiative is aimed at supporting former players who dedicated years to the sport at a time when women’s cricket in India had limited financial backing and far less visibility than it does today. According to KSCA secretary Santosh Menon , the pension scheme is meant to honour the efforts of women who helped build Karnataka’s presence in domestic cricket.

Under the scheme, former women cricketers aged 55 years and above will be eligible to receive the monthly pension. However, the benefit will apply only to those not already receiving a similar pension from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) . Eligible players will need to submit documents confirming their representation for Karnataka along with details of the matches they played for the state.

While the announcement has been widely welcomed, some observers feel the age eligibility could have been lower , considering many former players stepped away from the sport early due to limited opportunities and professional support during their playing days. A reduced age threshold, they argue, would allow more former cricketers to benefit sooner.

Karnataka has produced several notable women cricketers over the years. Among the most prominent names from the state is Shantha Rangaswamy , former India captain and one of the pioneers of women’s cricket in the country. Players from her era, who are now well past their playing days, are the kind of trailblazers the scheme is expected to benefit.

In recent decades, Karnataka has continued to produce national level players such as Veda Krishnamurthy and Rajeshwari Gayakwad , who have represented India on the international stage. While they are still far from the eligibility age, the new scheme symbolically acknowledges the path created by earlier generations of women cricketers.

By introducing the pension scheme, KSCA has taken a meaningful step in ensuring that the contributions of former women cricketers are remembered and supported , even years after their playing careers have ended.