League boost for women cricketers
THE inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023 will start next month.
The WPL 2023 will begin with a blockbuster clash between Gujarat Giants and Mumbai Indians on March 4 at the DY Patil Stadium, the BCCI confirmed this week while announcing the schedule for the inaugural edition of the tournament.
This week’s player auction in Mumbai saw 87 players picked up by five teams, out of which 30 were overseas cricketers.
In its first season, the WPL will stage 20 league matches and two playoff games will be played in a duration of 23 days.
The league, which have five teams – Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore and UP Warriorz – will have its first double-header day on March 5 when Royal Challengers Bangalore square off against Delhi Capitals at the Brabourne Stadium, CCI while UP Warriorz will play their first game of the league against Gujarat Giants at the DY Patil Stadium.
There will be four double headers. Eleven matches each will be held at the DY Patil Stadium and Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, the BCCI said.
The final game of the league stage will be played between UP Warriorz and Delhi Capitals on March 21 at the Brabourne Stadium, CCI.
The final of the Women's Premier League 2023 will be played at the Brabourne Stadium on March 26.
At the WPL Player Auction in Mumbai, the five franchises splurged the cash to acquire some of the best talents in the international and domestic circuit for the inaugural edition of the league.
Some of India’s top buys included Smriti Mandhana, who will play for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Team India Captain Harmanpreet Kaur was sold to Mumbai Indians. The rest of the stars from India and around the globe made the cut in one of the five franchises.
Among the foreign players are South Africa’s Dane van Niekerk who was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore, Marizanne Kapp was bought by Delhi Capitals and Shabnim Ismail was snapped up by UP Warriorz. |