The preparations for the inaugural edition of the Women’s Indian Premier League are underway, as the tournament will be launched next month. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to allow five foreign players in the playing XI for the league, according to a report by Cricbuzz. The Men’s Indian Premier League features four foreign players in the playing XI.
The Women’s Indian Premier League team will be allowed to have five foreign players, with at least one player from associate nations. However, the fifth overseas player has to be from an associate nation. A source said to Cricbuzz, “The teams will have the option of fielding five foreign players as long as the fifth player is from an Associate nation.”
The BCCI recently sold the media rights to Viacom 18, for INR 950 crore. The five franchises for the league will be announced by the board on January 25 after a closed bidding process. The tournament is likely to take place from March 4 to 26.
Women’s Indian Premier League will have 12 crores salary cap for the inaugural season: Reports
Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has kept 12 crores as the salary cap for the tournament. It will have an annual increment of INR 1.5 crore in the following four years. As a result, the fund will rise to INR 18 crore by the end of the first five-year cycle. There will be no provision for icon players in the league.
Further, the prize money from the league will be completely distributed to the players. The prize money will be INR 10 crore for the players, while the winning team will get INR 6 crore and the runners-up will get INR 3 crore. The team that finishes third will get INR 1 crore.
“100 percent of player prize money is to be distributed amongst the players only,” said a source to Cricbuzz.
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