BCCI Propose To Start Women's IPL Next Year. Will Continue With 3-Team T20 Challenge In 2022

Although the Women's IPL is proposed for next year, a three-team Women’s T20 Challenger is likely to be held during the IPL playoffs in May end in Pune.

Trailblazers players celebrate during the VIVO Women T20 Challenge match against Supernovas at SMS Stadium in Jaipur, Rajasthan,India on May 06,2019. | (File Photos/ Getty Images)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is serious about conducting a Women's IPL in 2023. BCCI President Sourav Ganguly said that the Women's IPL has been approved and it will be a five or six-team affair. 

It is also understood that the owners of the current IPL teams are interested in the women's tournament. 

“It (the full-fledged women’s IPL) has to be approved by the AGM. We plan to start it by next year hopefully,” BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said after an IPL Governing Council meeting in Mumbai. 

“The process (to launch the women’s IPL) has started. It could be a five or six team league,” said IPL Governing Council chairman Brijesh Patel told PTI.

Although the Women's IPL is proposed for next year, a three-team Women’s T20 Challenger is likely to be held during the IPL playoffs in May end in Pune.

After the Big Bash League (BBL) of Australia started a women's league and even the West Indies planned a three-team women's league, the BCCI was under pressure to conduct a women's IPL. The BCCI will now explore the time and window to conduct the tournament in 2023.

"Obviously, running the event alongside the men's IPL may not be possible. We may have to explore a window first. Besides, the details of the proposed event will be worked out," a GC member told Cricbuzz. 

Reports also suggested that the current IPL owners will be given the first choice if they want to invest in the women's teams. If things don't work out that way, then the BCCI will look for other options.