Mithali Raj wants women's IPL to start next year
Veteran batswoman Mithali Raj said that the BCCI should not wait forever as far the women's edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) starts. The India Women's ODI captain urged the board to make it happen next year on a smaller scale before gradually developing it. This is what Mithali said regarding the women's IPL.
Mithali bats for women's IPL by next year
Mithali highlighted what the BCCI can do regarding women's IPL. "I personally feel they should start a women's IPL by next year, even if it's on a slightly smaller scale and with some changes in rules, such as, say, have five to six foreign players in the first edition instead of four as is the case with the men's IPL," she told ESPNCricinfo.
Mithali wants existing IPL franchises to own teams
India don't have enough women cricketers for the IPL. Mithali said it can still be conducted if existing IPL franchises own teams to begin the process. "I agree we don't have the depth in the domestic pool yet, but the key is to get the existing franchises to form teams, even if (only) five or six of them are keen to begin the process."
BCCI planned to organize a four-team women's T20 challenge
This year, the BCCI had decided to organize a four-team women's T20 challenge to run parallel to the men's IPL playoffs. However, it has been put on hold along with the main event due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has claimed more than 21,000 lives globally. In 2019, a three-team women's tournament was held featuring teams called IPL Velocity, IPL Trailblazers and IPL Supernovas.
You cannot wait forever: Mithali on women's IPL
"You cannot wait forever; you have to begin at some point, and gradually, year by year, you can keep evolving the league and then bring it down to four foreign players," she claimed.
