New Delhi, Aug 12 : The BCCI has altered its domestic calendar for women to create a time slot in March 2023 to host the first women’s Indian Premier League.The women’s domestic period that typically runs from November to April has been pushed forward by one month.
The senior women’s championship season for 2022-23 will start on the 11th of October with the T20 competition, and conclude in February of next year with the inter-zonal one-day event.
Notably that the BCCI has been organizing the Women’s T20 Challenge since 2018, with a gap in 2021 due to the emergence of the covid-19 pandemic.
The three-team competition has participation of many famous players from outside of India.However, the desire for a bigger tournament like that of the male’s IPL is growing for some time.
In February of this year, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly stated that women’s IPL would be played in 2023.
“We are now at the point of formulation that will lead to an official WIPL.
It will definitely take place.I believe that the coming year i.e.2023 will be a ideal time to begin the women’s IPL that will be as large and successful as the men’s IPL,” Ganguly had stated.
Then, BCCI secretary Jay Shah had also suggested an event with five or six teams and added “I am ecstatic with the level of response we’ve received from our stakeholders.Many of the players from the current IPL teams have inquired and expressed an interest in having WIPL franchises.”
Many owners of IPL teams for men have publicly expressed an interest in owning a women’s club too.There have been whispers of the current IPL franchises receiving the first right of refusal in the purchase of teams, but they are yet to receive an official confirmation from the board according to an ESPNcricinfo report revealed.
The BCCI is scheduled to discuss issues related to women’s IPL at their annual general meeting in September.A lot of the preparations for the event will revolve focused on selling of the rights to media.
The excitement for women’s cricket in India and, by extension, the women’s IPL is at an all-time level following the string of impressive performance by the Indian team in international tournaments in recent years.
The recent silver-medal result at the Commonwealth Games by Indian women’s cricket team in Birmingham has only added to the demand.
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