Women’s T20 Challenge likely to remain three-team competition this year

While the cricketing fraternity is constantly urging the BCCI to start a full-fledged women’s IPL, the Indian cricket board is unlikely to do it at least for this year. Several women cricketers from past and present have been urging the BCCI to start a full-fledged competition for the betterment of women’s game.

But the BCCI is not planning anything like that at present. The board is likely to stick to three teams for the Women’s T20 Challenge tournament, usually held during the IPL play-offs. Last year, the BCCI had planned to increase the exhibition event to four teams but it continued to be a three-team affair due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of now, the board is in talks with the Australian and English cricket boards for the availability of their women cricketers. Last year, the delayed IPL was held in the September-November window last year and as a result, the Women’s Challenge clashed with the WBBL. Consequently, the Australian women cricketers had missed the tournament in the UAE.

“As of now, the plan is to have three teams. A final decision will be taken shortly. There is a good chance that it will be held in Delhi. Talks are on with the leading Australian and England players,” a BCCI official was quoted as saying by the Times of India.

The BCCI could take a final decision on the competition during its Apex Council meeting on April 16. One of the main agendas of the meeting is the appointment of Indian women’s team support staff and its Future Tours Programme.