Bangalore, Jun 17: India's women's cricket team leaves for a tour of England on Friday hoping to claim a share of the limelight the men's team is so used to dominating.
A World Cup victory earlier this year was a major accomplishment for the men's team, which will now strive to retain its top test ranking with series in the West Indies and England.
Amid the busy men's calendar, the women's team will feature in two four-team limited-overs tournaments in England starting next week.
Captain Jhulan Goswami said "it is important to do well abroad" in order to raise the profile of the team, which will play in a Twenty20 tournament from June 23 to 27, and a one-day tournament from June 30 to July 27.
Women's teams from Australia, New Zealand and England will also compete in the tournaments.
"Our international performances look good when we play at home, but we need to do better while playing in series overseas," Goswami said. "We need to do well like the men's team if we hope to be taken notice of."
The team, which is managed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, gets to use the best of facilities, but players are not offered central contracts.
"We have prepared well at the National Cricket Academy and are confident of doing well in England," said 27-year-old allrounder Goswami, who also indicated that players were hoping good performances would get them more benefits.
The Indian women's team has won 96 of 183 one-day internationals, while losing 82 with one tie and four 'no-results'.
It has played 16 Twenty20 matches with eight wins and eight losses. AP
