A press statement from the BCCI on Tuesday asked for “reputed entities” to make a non-refundable payment of INR 5 lakh (USD 6000 approx.) by January 21 to procure the “invitation to tender”, which details the eligibility criteria for potential buyers, following which, based on the BCCI’s discretion, they will be allowed to bid for teams. Though there is no official update on the matter, it’s possible that some groups that own teams in the men’s IPL would be interested in acquiring women’s teams too.
The BCCI has been conducting the Women’s T20 Challenge since 2018, with a gap in 2021 when it was cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. It had started as a one-off exhibition match between two teams in 2018, but has since been a three-team competition, with prominent overseas players joining the best Indian talent. But the push to have a bigger competition, along the lines of the men’s IPL, has been growing for a while.
Responding to the demand for the tournament, Ganguly had said, “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.”
BCCI secretary Jay Shah had said, “Multiple existing IPL teams have enquired and expressed serious interest in owning WIPL franchises.” Rajasthan Royals are one of the groups to have publicly expressed an interest in owning a women’s IPL team. Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders are also believed to be interested. Shah had also hinted that the BCCI was looking at a five- or six-team tournament.