BCCI’s plans for women’s IPL

BCCI’s plans for women’s IPL

 

Following the impressive performance of the Indian women’s national cricket team in last year’s ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and the recent win over South Africa women, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been pondering over a potential women’s T20 league in the near future, to grow and give exposure to upcoming talents.

 

However, while that is still in pipeline, the BCCI plans to have a few exhibition women T20 matches during theIPL 2018, before the knockout stages. If the move works logistically, the plans to have a women’s T20 league would be put in motion.

 

Vinod Rai, the chairman of the Committee of Administrators (CoA) reportedly believes that the women cricketers deserve to play the IPL match and the cricket board is committed to making decisive developments on this front.

 

The board is planning to form a committee which comprises of the current captain, coach and some former players, to suggest ways of adding a couple of events to the annual calendar in the women’s cricket.

 

According to reports, an official said that the board’s priority is to get more and more girls to play cricket, pick and nurture promising talents by conducting a talent scout and have more contracted players to ensure financial security. The CoA has assured all help and financial support to women’s cricket.
The idea to uplift women’s cricket and have more female cricketers is a noble one, but not an easy task. In our patriarchal cricket-loving country, women’s IPL sounds like a paradoxical concept. But with the changing scenario in the current times and the support of the board, we might as well get to see leagues and age-group competitions held for women in the times to come.
There are talks to shorten the length of the ground to help with the lack of physicality, which is needed in the T20 overs format. Former Indian player Shanta Rangaswamy feels that the idea to shorten the oval to 60-yards is absurd and adds that they themselves used to play on the 75-yard ground.

 

A women’s T20 league would surely help a lot of female cricketers to showcase their talent, provide healthy livelihood and an experience of playing with the best players, just like it has happened with the men’s league. With the changing times and an increase of women professionals in every field, there are chances of the same in the future. Women’s cricket in India would surely be at a better stage over the next decade.