From 2023, the BCCI will host the maiden edition of the Women’s IPL. The T20 event, which will feature a player auction, is expected to attract as many as six teams.
The much-anticipated Women’s Indian Premier League (IPL) is planned to begin in 2023, with 6 teams expected to compete in the debut season under a franchise-based model.
Notably, the BCCI has been hosting the Women’s T20 Challenge, which featured three teams in a T20 event. Even though the BCCI staged the IPL in two halves in 2021 due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the Women’s T20 Challenge was not held.
The notion to start a full-fledged Women’s IPL was considered during the Governing Council Meeting last month.
On Sunday, a top BCCI official told Sports 12news World that the Women’s IPL is very much on for 2023, and that the board has already started working on a plan to establish a 6-team league starting next year.
“Because we have the men’s IPL as well, we have already started working on the strategy as to how many teams we can have and what window will suit,” the official stated.
“At this time, we can’t provide many information, but we are quite thrilled about this league.” Some franchises have already shown an interest in participating in this tournament. We are making preparations to have 6 teams to start with. The auction process and other crucial components of the competition are being worked on by our staff,” the official noted.
“As of now, everything is just on paper,” the official continued when asked if the BCCI is looking at a certain window for the women’s IPL. It will take time to streamline everything because there are so many things to consider: appropriate planning, auctions, teams, and so on.
“However, we may launch the women’s IPL in the summer, but it is still a long way off.”
“The board will make a formal announcement once everything has been discussed. The issue will also be discussed at the AGM in order to put a stamp on it.”
The Women’s Big Bash League is run by Cricket Australia, whereas the England and Wales Cricket Board hosted the Women’s Hundred alongside the men’s competition during the first edition earlier this year. Eight Indian women’s cricketers competed in Australia’s Big Bash League in 2021.