Players like Sophie Ecclestone of England previously participated in the Women’s T20 Challenge in India.
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) is a women’s version of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the world’s best Twenty20 franchise competition, and it takes place in March.
The owners of three current IPL clubs, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians, and Delhi Capitals, obtained the rights for women’s franchises.
The other two teams were received by Adani Group and Capri Global.
Each team would be based in Ahmedabad or Lucknow.
The owners of four other IPL clubs, the Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Sunrisers Hyderabad, also failed in their bids.
Former England cricketer and BBC Test Match Special analyst Isa Guha termed the accord “a watershed day for the women’s game.”
The media rights for the WPL were originally acquired by Viacom 18 by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for about £96 million.
The BCCI secretary, Jay Shah, called the accord “transformative” for women’s cricket.
Former India captain Mithali Raj published on social media, “A record-breaking start for the inaugural Women’s Premier League and expected nothing less!” It will completely change women’s cricket as we currently know it.
It was a “pioneering gesture” and a “significant step forward for Indian women’s cricket,” according to current India player Smriti Mandhana.
There will now be a player auction before the competition, which is expect to begin in early February.
England’s spinner Sophie Ecclestone and all-rounder Nat Sciver are expect to be among the most expensive players. Each team may sign up to seven foreign players.
“A record-breaking start for the virginal Women’s Premier League and anticipated nothing less!” shouted former India captain Mithali Raj on social media. It will radically transform women’s cricket as we know it.
Previously, the Women’s T20 Challenge was host in India. The invitational competition began with one exhibition game in 2018 and expanded to three teams in 2019.
“The most development fund in the history of women’s cricket,” according to the assessment.
After years of hype and bungled starts, the women’s version of the IPL has finally come. The launch of the Women’s Premier League may be the most significant achievement in women’s cricket history.
The league is beginning to take shape due to the franchise purchases, but there are still better days to come. What will the top female athletes be worth financially? More than the agreements in various men’s franchise leagues? Which well-known trainers might be drawn to the WPL?
Despite the enthusiasm, there is some concern about the WPL’s potential impact on the international game.
For example, Deandra Dottin and Lizelle Lee have already quit representing West Indies and South Africa, respectively, partly because they can support themselves in franchise leagues. How many more will follow suit, particularly from countries where agreements for female cricket players are unprofitable?
How about available time on the calendar? There is already a brief Caribbean Premier League, Women’s Big Bash in Australia, and The Hundred in the United Kingdom. A Pakistan Super League is also plan.