The Women's T20 Challenge will be held in Pune from May 23 to 28, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah said in a statement on Tuesday.
After the apex council meeting a couple of weeks ago, the BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had stated that the tournament will be played at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow . But Sportstar understands that after deliberations, the Board top brass decided that with the bio-bubble already in place, it will be a right move to host the four-match tournament at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.
According to the schedule, the tournament will begin on May 23, followed by two round-robin league matches - on May 24 and May 26. The final will be on May 28.
The Women’s T20 Challenge has been a regular affair since 2018. However, due the national team’s tour of Australia, the tournament could not be held last year. This year, a total of three teams will feature in the tournament and some of the big names will be seen in action.
In March, the BCCI revealed that it is mulling over a six-team 'full-fledged' Women's Indian Premier League starting in 2023 which will involve Indian and overseas players.
Ganguly had then said that the proposal “has to be approved by the AGM.” While Board officials remained tight-lipped, it is understood that some of the stakeholders, who own IPL teams, are keen on being associated with the tournament. Teams who are part of the IPL are keen on buying teams for the league and sources indicated that “first choice will be given to existing franchises post which other parties to be invited” to bid for teams. “We are looking at all the aspects, and a concrete plan will be finalised soon,” a Board insider said.
A BCCI spokesperson told Sportstar : “The interest among fans and players alike towards the women's T20 Challenge is an encouraging sign and we at BCCI are committed to ensuring that we assist to take women's cricket forward. The women's IPL will be a big step in that direction...”
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