MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has hinted at organising women’s IPL exhibition matches in the best-of-3 format involving two teams around the time of the IPL 2019 playoffs, Press Trust of India reports.
The board is keen to not repeat its mistake last year and prepare better logistically this time too by conducting the matches at 7 pm towards the end of the IPL during some of the off-days. This will help players avoid the heat as well as attract more crowds in the stadium as well as more television viewership.
However, the match dates will depend on those of the Lok Sabha elections. Once they are finalised, there will be greater clarity on its schedule.
“Like last year, the sole window we have is during the play-offs. But a lot depends on the election dates,” a BCCI official told PTI on Monday.
“We are waiting for the Election Commission of India to announce the full schedule of the general elections and once that happens, we will finalise the schedule for the women’s games.
“A 7 pm start on days when the IPL games are not held makes more sense that staging them in the afternoon when not many people are likely to turn up again.
“Logistically and even considering the players’ pool we have, the best of three games between two teams seems a lot more doable than forming three teams. The quality of the competition can’t be compromised and that is one of the reasons why a women’s IPL can’t be organised at the moment.”
