Mithali Raj talked about an equivalent IPL for the development of women’s cricket in India in her post match press conference after they lost to England in the finals of the Women’s World Cup 2017 due to a relatively inexperienced middle order.
Many in the recent past have proposed for a T-20 league for the women’s. However, BCCI made it clear that currently, it is impossible due to financial problems. They also cited the turmoil within the cricket body as one of the reasons which make it difficult to have a T-20 league currently.
Though, BCCI is all set to look into infrastructure and grass root development for the improvement of women’s cricket. “There is no denying the fact that the women cricketers have made us proud. They deserve all the accolades and definitely, this is the time to promote the game in the country and help create a solid foundation for the women’s game to go from strength to strength. But to think of a women’s IPL would be a little far-fetched as it is not financially feasible at present. Also, the current unrest within the BCCI as the board is trying its best to implement the proposals of the Lodha panel at the earliest means that the women’s IPL needs to wait at present,” a BCCI official said while talking to CricketNext.
The official also mentioned, “There have been a few proposals in the past as well. Current treasurer Anirudh Chaudhary had in fact presented a similar model some time back and it is not like that the BCCI isn’t looking at the possibility. But realistically, it is important to work on the grassroots level and improve the supply line of women cricketers to back the good work done by the likes of Mithali, Jhulan Goswami, and Harmanpreet Kaur among others.”
While Mithali mentioned about the positives WBBL has done to the likes of Kaur and Mandhana, other girl’s will have to wait for a T-20 league in their own country.