Action from last year’s women’s T20 World Cup final match between India and Australia. Telegraph picture

Patna, April 27: Hopes for finding the next Anjum Chopra and Jhulan Goswami in Bihar increased a few notches today. For, girls will get a chance to battle it out on cricket field for the first time in the state in May.

The three-day inter-district tournament would be held in the memory of Sister Jesse, the late principal of Notre Dame Academy, from May 5. The matches will be played at the Notre Dame Academy grounds.

Bihar Cricket Association (BCA), the ad hoc committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), would co-host the women’s cricket tournament christened as Sister Jesse Memorial Women’s Cricket with Notre Dame School, Kurji.

BCA member Mritunjay Tiwary said: “In a conservative state like Bihar it is big task to organise a cricket tournament for women. There have been protests from various quarters as people wanted to see and enjoy the game but seldom feels that girls from their homes should play the game.”

Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi would inaugurate the tournament at the Kurji ground. The trials for selection of players will begin in Patna on May 2.

Total eight teams from Patna, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Darbhanga, Bhojpur, Motihari and Purnea would participate in the tournament.

Tiwary said: “This is the first time that any state-level cricket tournament for women is being held in Patna after the BCCI took over the control of women’s cricket in India. The BCCI wants more participation of women in the game.”

Sister Mary Tessy, the principal of Notre Dame Academy, said: “We will try our best to promote the tournament and create awareness about the game in the state at the same time.”

Several people pointed out that there is a limited opportunity for sports in the state, especially for women. However, in the last year itself, Mokama girl Smita Kumari made the country proud after India won the inaugural version of women’s kabaddi at 2010 Asians Games. She was a member of the winning team.

Tiwary said: “Women’s cricket has always remained a neglected spot in the country. The difference between the men’s cricket team and their women counterparts is for everyone to see.”

Sukhda Pandey, minister for sports, arts and culture said: “The state government is very serious to promote the sport among women. The department has been organising cricket tournaments at the college and district levels.”

Pandey said: “We want girls to come out of the confines of the four walls of their houses and take part in various sports events just as the boys do.”

Tiwary pointed out that there would be prizes for the woman of the match and the player of the tournament.

“BCA intends to organise cricket camps in districts to unearth budding talents. The selections at the cricket camps at district-level would be strictly based on performance. The BCA expects women cricket enthusiasts from every nook and corner of each village to attend the camps.”