NEW DELHI: three days after BCCI president Sourav Ganguly asserted that a Women’s Indian Premier League starting from 2023 is very much on the cards, board secretary Jay Shah echoed his words.
Ganguly had told PTI on Friday, “We are at the level of formulation to have a full-fledged WIPL. It is certainly going to happen. I strongly believe that next year i.e. 2023 will be a very good time to start a full-fledged women’s IPL which will be as big and grand a success as men’s IPL.”
In a similar vein, Shah told Reuters in an email: “I want to assure you that BCCI is not only sincere but is taking all necessary steps to start a full-fledged women’s league similar to the IPL soon.”
“The huge interest among fans and players towards the women’s T20 Challenge is an encouraging sign and we are all committed to making it happen.”
“The BCCI is keeping a close watch on the COVID-19 situation in the country and if it is conducive, we will stage the event in India this year and I am pretty hopeful about that,” Shah told the newswire.
The board would take a “wait and watch approach” on the presence of spectators, depending on COVID-19 guidelines, he said.
Offering a larger perspective, Shah said: “With the IPL window expanding and the ICC (global) events every year in the cycle, our primary responsibility is to safeguard bilateral cricket at home, with emphasis on Test cricket.”
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