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Sourav Ganguly confirms WIPL being in formulation stage and expected to begin in 2023

The Indian Premier League, when it began in 2008 was the pioneer in transforming the perception of the T20 format. The success of the league gave birth to hundreds of leagues across the globe. However, when it comes to Women’s Cricket, the case of being the pioneer hasn’t been true.


Before the BCCI stepped up their game, the Women’s Big Bash League in Australia has had 7 successful seasons and even Indian players have been hot properties there. In the most recent season, Harmanpreet Kaur, India’s T20i captain won the player of the tournament. Furthermore, ECB has had tremendous success with their opening edition of the Women’s Hundred. Again Jemimah Rodrigues from India was an absolute sensation in that tournament.


Sourav Ganguly had been facing constant criticism as BCCI president due to the lack of importance given to Women’s Cricket post the pandemic hit India. Indian Women have played only one home series in the last two years and the Women’s T20 challenge was also canceled in 2021. The Women’s team lost the series against SA, England and Australia but they received a lot of appreciation for the excellent performances they put in, particularly in the two Test matches.


However, after the third wave of the pandemic in India better things lie in store for Women’s Cricket. Firstly, they are playing the World Cup in New Zealand after playing a bilateral series on the same shores. Second, the Women’s T20 Challenge is back after a gap of a year. And finally, most importantly an official green flag to the WIPL has come.


In  an interview with the Press Trust of India, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly as remarked,


"We are at the level of formulation to have a full-fledged WIPL. It is certainly going to happen. I strongly believe that next year i.e. 2023 will be a very good time to start a full-fledged women’s IPL which will be as big and grand a success as men’s IPL."


These new beginnings mean a lot to not just current women cricketers but also an entire generation of women cricketers to come, as well as the entire ecosystem. WIPL would also add to the depth of the Indian Women’s Squad and induce healthy competition among the players. Most importantly many young emerging cricketers will get to rub shoulders with top cricketers from all over the world.


Financially, this would mean a huge boost to the Women’s Cricket Economy which is currently of the size of a pea compared to Men’s Cricket. The WIPL will not just mean more income for the players but also more influx through brands, sponsors, broadcasting, scouting programs etc.


Thus, Indian Women’s Cricket is certainly going to transform, come 2023.

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Pakistani pacer Mohammad Hasnain’s action deemed illegal; suspended from bowling

PCB and CA confirm that Hasnain’s action has been tested illegal after the inspection at an ICC approved facility in Lahore. Former England captain Nasser Hussain once remarked “Pakistan Cricket at its best; One minute down, next minute up”. Time and again this statement comes around to prove itself right. This time fortunes are slightly against the young fast bowler who not only proved his potential but was turning out to be a match-winner for Pakistan. In less than a month’s time Hasnain, who was on his way to becoming a superstar in Australia, bowling rockets in the recently concluded season of Big Bash League (BBL), is now suspended from bowling in Pakistan’s marquee T20 league tournament, Pakistan Super League (PSL) as well as international cricket. Earlier, Hasnain’s action was reported in Australia by umpire Gerard Abood. According to ICC guidelines, the bowler with suspected action is required to be tested at an ICC approved facility within the next 14 days. While Hasnain was supposed to get tested at a facility in Brisbane, PCB called back all Pakistani players playing the BBL for preparation ahead of the PSL. Thus, it was decided that the action will be tested at the ICC approved facility at Lahore and the results would be shared with Cricket Australia for independent review and verification. Subsequently, both parties in agreement found the result to be illegal and imposed the ban on Hasnain. Luckily, age is on Hasnain’s side. The 21-year-old had burst through the ranks in domestic cricket in 2018 and his ability to clock 150 clicks fast-tracked him into the Pakistan setup. As a 19-year-old he had debuted for Pakistan in both ODIs and T20Is and has 26 caps already despite not being a first-choice pick for Pakistan. His returns have been modest but he certainly has bowled a couple of match-winning spells for Pakistan. It is quite interesting that his action hasn’t been suspected in the last 2.5 years of international and league cricket. The only possible explanation is a gradual biomechanical change in his action has occurred which has taken the bend in the arm to over 15 degrees. The PCB along with their bowling experts have expressed confidence that his action can be easily reworked to meet the ICC prescribed norms. Hasnain isn’t the first bowler from Pakistan to be banned due to suspect action. Saeed Ajmal and Mohammed Hafeez are the other two famous names having undergone troubles around the same. However, being a pace bowler with much linear action, Hasnain might be back on the park bowling rockets sooner rather than later.