Women’s IPL is likely to happen this month; MI and CSK interested to buy teams
Women’s IPL is likely to happen this month: The first edition of the Women’s Indian Premier League (WIPL) will be taking place most likely in 2023 in the month of March. BCCI will be holding the tournament in a one-month window. The first season will be seeing five teams taking part, says a PTI report. The league will be taking place right after the Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa.
“Yes, the WIPL will start in the first week of March and we have earmarked a four-week window for the first year. The T20 World Cup in South Africa is from February 9 to 26 and immediately after that we plan to hold the WIPL,” a senior BCCI official privy to the development told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
“As of now, we are going ahead with five teams but it could be six as there is a lot of interest among potential investors. In due course of time, the process of auctioning of teams will be announced,” he further said.
“I am very excited to read about a window being carved out for the women’s IPL early next year. I hope it is a full-fledged tournament. It will lead to a revolution in the women’s game in India.”
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 12, 2022
Not to forget, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah had earlier given confirmation that WIPL can be held in 2023. The demand for the Women’s IPL has increased ever since Indian women’s cricket started winning big series and tournaments. There is a belief among fans that the standard of women’s cricket will improve with the WIPL in the same way it helped the men’s game to grow.
“I am thrilled at the kind of response we have got from the stakeholders. Multiple existing IPL teams have enquired and expressed serious interest in owning WIPL franchises,” Shah stated in an interview with PTI some time back.
Before that, Ganguly has been seen expressing his confidence about the start of the WIPL in 2023.
“I strongly believe that next year i.E. 2023 will be a very good time to start a full-fledged women’s IPL which will be as big and grand a success as men’s IPL,” he had said.
There is more incoming good news. The same report says that successful IPL teams like Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians, and Chennai Super Kings have shown their interest in buying teams. Even UTV big boss Ronnie Screwvala posted on Twitter that he would be interested in buying a WIPL franchise.
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