Giving fans and women cricketers what they want, BCCI finally announces Women's IPL
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) formally announced their intentions to start a women’s edition of the uber-successful cricketing tournament Indian Premier League. The Committee of Administrators (CoA) head Vinod Rai has stated that they plan to get this off the road in the next three years.
"We are planning to get a women's IPL in place in two to three years," Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) administrator Vinod Rai told AFP.
These plans have been further cemented as an exhibition game was announced to create buzz and excitement has been arranged, set to happen later this month on May 22 amongst the very topmost international women players. This game will be a congregation of eminent women cricketers from England, Australia and South Africa in Mumbai, and they will play the home team. The Twenty20 match will be held at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.
"The match to be played between a BCCI XI and IPL XI will take place ahead of the first (men's IPL) playoff at the Wankhede Stadium,” added Vinod.
While other details are unclear, pressure had been mounting to start a women’s edition for this all-start tournament that did wonders to the game of cricket in terms of its entertainment value – and it has been a highly profitable franchise.
This year, it was announced that the BCCI will funnel Rs 250 crore of their revenues into the IPL 2018, amounting to a major hike in their respective shares.
Therefore, it could be that much-needed and well-deserved boost to women’s cricket, in order to bring it to the mainstream here in India, especially considering how immensely talented our Women in Blue are. Last year, Mithali Raj-led India made it to the World Cup Final. While they did lose to the England team eventually, they managed to establish their mettle and win hearts all-round, and even had the ratings to show for it. Therefore, the time was right, to give not only the athletes but also the fans of the sport, what they wanted.