Xtra Time Web Desk: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is all set to launch the much-anticipated Women’s Indian Premier League (WIPL) next year in March with 5 teams.
According to a note sent by the board to state associations, the women’s IPL will start in March next year. The first season f WIPL will see 20 league games with each teams playing each other twice. The table toppers will earn a direct entry into the final, while the second and third-place teams will battle out in the Eliminator. Each team can have 18 players with a maximum of six from overseas.
“To have a well balance of domestic & international players and to have competitive teams, it has been tentatively decided to have five teams for WIPL. Each team can comprise a maximum of eighteen players whereas no team can have more than six overseas players.
“Further, no more than five overseas players – four from Full Members of the ICC and one from the Associate Members of the ICC – can be part of the playing XI of each team,” read the BCCI note.
“Like the IPL, it will be a challenge to play in the home-away format in WIPL, as 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 a caravan style where after finishing ten matches at one venue, the next ten matches 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 2023 season.”
The shortlisted cities where the WIPL matches can be staged are Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. The final call on all matters concerning the Women’s IPL will be taken by the IPL governing council and BCCI office-bearers.