Women’s IPL Set to Begin in March 2023
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is thought to have picked two dates for a franchise-style T20 league for women to begin in 2023.
It is believed that while not participating in the IPL playoff games, the BCCI conducted discussions with the partners, with March 2023 being considered the best time to hold the competition. If not, September will most likely be considered as an alternative.
BCCI Plans to Start Women’s IPL in March 2023
Despite calls to start over the last few years, the BCCI hopes to launch the new league in 2023 based on data obtained from former players and various partners.
The BCCI recently directed the Women’s T20 Challenge in Pune, where the matches drew a large crowd. Despite the city’s facilitation of IPL matches, the fact that around 8,621 people attended the final between Supernovas and Velocity was a clear indication of how far the game has progressed.
Things have started to move since BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah mentioned that a full-fledged competition would begin one year from now.
Furthermore, the BCCI is said to have had meetings with Cricket Australia and England and Wales Cricket Board partners during the last week and is likely to seek the International Cricket Council (ICC) to set a separate window for its new league in March.
According to the New Indian Express, the BCCI met with Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and it appears that a March-April window is a consensus, and the board is likely to continue discussions with the International Cricket Council (ICC) to provide for a separate window for the Women’s tournament.
IPL Franchises Shows Their Interest in Women’s Cricket
It is believed that the BCCI has received positive responses from several boards regarding their specific players’ support.
The BCCI is expected to see six groups begin the competition, which is supported by a section of the IPL franchises’ interest.
The BCCI announced earlier this year that the Women’s IPL would likely begin next year. However, as the year has continued, the cries for the event have become stronger, with several cricketers, including Ben Stokes, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Alyssa Healy, Suzie Bates, Heather Knight, and Punam Raut, supporting the creation of a new tournament. And, if the Women’s T20 Challenge is any indication, talent in Indian women’s cricket is just waiting to be discovered.
