Agra, June 23 (IANS) Former India captain and Arjuna awardee Mithali Raj has said the growth of women’s cricket in India has been quite slow in the absence of opportunities to play more matches.

‘We need more matches and longer innings. Players are not getting enough practice and the gaps between matches are far too long,’ she told mediapersons Tuesday at the local Eklavya stadium where she had come as chief guest for the prize distribution function of state women’s cricket tournament.

Mithali said Uttar Pradesh has given the country three excellent players in Neetu David, Hemlata Kala and Preeti Dimri (both from Agra).

Mithali said the situation had vastly improved after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took over but a lot more remained to be done.