Women's T20 Challenge to commence on November 1 in UAE
BCCI president Sourav Ganguly confirmed that Women's T20 Challenge will be played in UAE from November 1-14. The four-team tournament will run on the sidelines of 2020 men's IPL playoffs. Notably, the details regarding team and squad are yet to be announced. However, the entire process will be subject to clearance from government. Here is more on the same.
Women's IPL is very much on: Ganguly
"I can confirm to you that the women's IPL is very much on and we do have a plan in place for the national team also," Ganguly was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India.
A camp for women cricketers to be conducted soon
Ganguly also said the centrally-contracted women players will have a camp ahead of the tournament. "We couldn't have exposed any of our cricketers to health risk. It would have been dangerous," Ganguly added. "The NCA also remained shut because of COVID-19. But we have a plan in place and we will have a camp for women, I can tell you that."
India Women to play white-ball series against WI and SA
Reportedly, the BCCI's cricket operations team is drawing a schedule where India Women are likely to have two white-ball series against South Africa and West Indies. The series will take place before the ODI World Cup in New Zealand next year. Recently, Indian women's England tour comprising two T20Is and four ODIs was called-off due to logistical reasons.
Women's T20 Challenge was introduced in 2018
Earlier this year, BCCI announced that four teams will feature in the Women's T20 Challenge instead of the usual three. A total number of seven matches will be played. The idea of a women's T20 tournament was introduced in 2018 with a one-off T20 being played in Mumbai. Last year, the tournament was changed to a three-team format as Trailblazers clinched the title.
The WBBL will coincide with Women's T20 Challenge
If the Women's T20 Challenge goes ahead as planned, the Indian women may not be able to participate in the 2020 Women's Big Bash League. Australia's premier T20 league will run from October 17 to November 29. Notably, the four Indian candidates Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues & Shafali Verma will have to reconsider their participation in the WBBL.
