As per reports from ESPNcricinfo, Women’s IPL is all set to begin in March 2023. BCCI has reportedly mapped out a full-fledged five-team tournament. The plan will be presented before the BCCI at their Annual General Meeting, which is to be held on 18th October 2022. If all goes well, we are all set to witness the much-awaited inaugural season of Women’s IPL.
BCCI has apparently decided to have five 18-member teams. Each team will play 2 matches against each opponent. However, it has been known that rather than the home-away format, the matches will be played at one venue for 10 days and then move on to the next venue for another 10 days.
As far as teams are concerned, a total of 18 members will be allowed in one team. A maximum of 6 foreign players will be allowed in the 18 member squad. Moreover, 5 foreign players will be permitted to feature in the playing XI. The knockout phase will be the same as the Men’s IPL.
The BCCI sent a letter to state associations regarding the Women’s IPL.
A letter has been circulating across the state cricket association regarding the entire plan for the Women’s IPL. Here’s the context of the letter.
“It will be a challenge to play the WIPL in the home and away format. Because with five to six teams it is not possible to have a match every day”
“It is suggested that the tournament can be played in caravan style, where after finishing ten matches at one venue, the next ten matches are to be played at the next venue. Therefore, ten matches each are to be played across two venues in the 2023 WIPL season. Ten each in the next two venues in the 2024 season, and for the 2025 season, ten matches in the remaining one venue and the remaining ten in one of the venues from the 2023 season.”
BCCI will sell out the five teams of the Women’s IPL to franchise. They have two different plans to conduct this allotment. The first plan is to have teams zone-wise. For instance, East Zone, West Zone, and so on. The second one is to have a team named after 6 major metro cities: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai. However, the final decision will be taken at the AGM on 18th October 2022.
Meanwhile, the first edition of the Women’s IPL is likely to clash with the Women’s Pakistan League. However, the BCCI clearly stated in its letter to the state associations that a 25-day window for the women’s IPL will be set aside in the FTP cycle each year.
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