By Prarthana Hazarika
A sexual harassment controversy involving members of the Meghalaya Under-23 women’s cricket team has snowballed into one of the biggest crises to hit cricket administration in the state, exposing serious allegations of institutional failure, administrative silence and attempts to suppress the voices of young women athletes.
The controversy erupted after several U-23 women cricketers accused members of the team’s support staff, including the coach and manager, of inappropriate behaviour, verbal harassment and misconduct through personal communication platforms such as WhatsApp.
However, what has shocked many within the sporting fraternity is not just the nature of the allegations, but claims that the matter was allegedly ignored for months despite senior officials being aware of the complaints.
The Meghalaya State Commission for Women has now stepped in, summoning officials of the Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA) along with the accused individuals to explain the handling of the matter. The intervention has intensified public scrutiny over whether adequate safeguards existed to protect women athletes representing the state.
The issue took a dramatic turn after MCA President James P.K. Sangma publicly accused certain office-bearers within the association of attempting to “brush the matter under the carpet.”
In strongly-worded statements, Sangma alleged that the complaints were first brought to the notice of officials in December 2025, yet no immediate inquiry, suspension or preventive action was initiated.
“This is not just an oversight, it is a failure of governance,” Sangma said, adding that those responsible were now trying to protect their own integrity after the players “spoke truth to power.”
According to him, the accused manager was even allowed to continue travelling with the women’s team during tournaments despite the seriousness of the allegations. He questioned why the welfare and safety of young cricketers were not prioritised at the earliest stage and warned that administrative silence in such cases sends a dangerous message to women in sport.
Sangma further alleged that after some players approached the association’s Ombudsman seeking justice, there were attempts by certain individuals to obstruct the Ombudsman’s functioning. The allegations have now exposed deep divisions within the MCA leadership and raised troubling questions over transparency and accountability in sports governance.
The controversy has also reignited a larger debate around the vulnerability of women athletes, especially young players who often depend entirely on coaches, managers and officials during camps and tournaments.
“What message does this send to parents who want their daughters to pursue cricket?” Sangma questioned.
“If the trust is broken, we don’t just lose one girl, but every girl she would have inspired. The pipeline for the future dries up even before it begins,” he added.
The writer also sought a reaction from BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia, who said, “I would not like to comment on the issue without knowing the entire story.”
For many observers, the controversy now goes beyond one team or one cricket association. It has become a wider conversation about whether sporting institutions in the country are truly equipped to protect young athletes and ensure that complaints of harassment are addressed with urgency, sensitivity and accountability.
As investigations continue, the focus remains firmly on whether justice will be delivered to the players who chose to speak out — and whether meaningful reforms will follow to ensure safer spaces for women in sport.
