While there has been lot of buzz about men’s cricket with IPL and then India tour of Australia, Women’s cricket, many believed, would have to suffer due to the pandemic with no cricket for next 6 months.
But, it appears all hasn’t been lost for women’s cricketers in India. A women’s T20 Challenge, a camp for the centrally-contracted women’s players and tours of South Africa and West Indies are on the cards before the Women’s ODI World Cup in New Zealand early next year.
BCCI President Sourav Ganguly on Sunday August 3 confirmed to the Press Trust of India (PTI) that Women’s T20 challenge, which is played on the sidelines of IPL, is “very much on”.
“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,” PTI quoted Ganguly as saying.
The Women’s T20 Challenge or Women’s IPL is likely to be held during the play-off week of IPL 2020, like the previous edition according to a senior official privy to the development.
“The women’s Challenger series is likely to be held between November 1-10 and there could be a camp before that,” the source was quoted by PTI.
Participation in WBBL uncertain
It was expected that in the event of no cricket for women cricketers the likes of Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Veda Krishnamurthy might play in Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) scheduled from October 17 to November 29.
However, with the BCCI planning for a packed schedule for women’s cricket, they may have to either give WBBL a miss or the BCCI will have to arrange for the logistics of the players from UAE to the Australia.
Sourav Ganguly also confirmed that a camp for centrally contracted women cricketers will be held.
“We couldn’t have exposed any of our cricketers – be it male or female to health risk. It would have been dangerous,” Ganguly said.
“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.”
The camp is expected to be followed by tours of South and West Indies, which are likely to be part of the women’s cricket schedule prepared by BCCI Cricket Operation’s team.
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