After a long wait, the BCCI officials agreed to stage a six-team Women's IPL from next year onwards, prioritising the existing IPL franchises. Also, outside parties will be invited to bid for the franchises once that option has been exhausted. The board has also cleared the road for IPL Media Rights with ITT (Invitation to Tender), likely to be released on Monday.
Having pressure from other boards and former and current women players, the BCCI has given the nod for a start to six-team Women's IPL. The decision to execute a six-team annual T20 tournament was taken during the Governing Council meeting of the IPL in Mumbai. However, Board President Sourav Ganguly also said that four exhibition games make a return this season after a one-year gap.
The most likely venue for the women's exhibitions games is Pune. The BCCI, which has been criticised in the last few years for not having plans for the Women's IPL, will need AGM's approval to kickstart the cash-rich league next season.
"The full-fledged women's IPL has to be approved by the AGM. Hopefully, we plan to start it by next year," BCCI president Sourav Ganguly told reporters after the IPL GC meeting on Friday. The Governing Council also discussed the issue of IPL media rights for the 2023-2027 cycle. "The tender will be out soon," said a Governing Council member.
Adding further, IPL chairman Brijesh Patel also cleared the cloud that there will be four matches for the three women teams around men's IPL play-offs this season, most likely in Ahmedabad. It was not organised last year. According to the chairman, there would be five or six teams in the Women's IPL, but again that would need the approval of the General Body.
Moreover, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also focuses on similar plans like CWI came up with. Cricket Australia's Women's Big Bash League (WBBL), England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) Women's Hundred and New Zealand Cricket's Women's Super-Smash are some of the prominent white-ball franchise tournaments for women's cricket.\
Crucial points of the meeting:
-BCCI proposes to start a six-team women's IPL in 2023.
-The first choice is to be given to existing franchises post to which other parties are invited.
-At least three franchises confirmed interest in buying teams.
-Women's T20 challenge is set to take place in late May this year.