WPL: BCCI plans to introduce home and away format from 2024
BCCI is devising new innovations and strategies to expand the reach of the Women’s Premier League. This comes after the resounding success of its first season. In a bid to make the tournament travel to cricket fans in various parts of the country, BCCI is also considering the introduction of the home-and-away format in WPL. It is worth noting that the first season of the tournament gained immense popularity. However, it took place only in two venues in Mumbai.
The IPL Chairman emphasized that teams would be able to build their fanbase by having home venues. It would also work to increase the already strengthened popularity of the tournament.
Dhumal has also made it clear that the number of teams won’t expand. It would remain locked at five teams for the next three years. However, he mention that BCCI is looking for the tournament to expand and will include more teams in future. To ensure the smooth running of WPL in next year, a call regarding the time slot will be taken.
“Well begun in half done. It has been a great beginning for WPL and going forward, it is going to be much better than what we have see so far. BCCI have started with five teams but going forward there is scope for additional teams given the pool of players that is going to come in the years to follow,” said Dhumal.
“We are hoping increase in the number of teams but for the coming three seasons will remain five. BCCI is surely looking at home and away format, we will see which time slot is available considering India’s international commitment and take a call,” he further added. From a fan engagement point of view it is very important that we go for home and away format,” Dhumal told PTI, as reported by India Today.
‘It has been a phenomenal ride so far’ – Dhumal reflects on inaugural season’s success
Talking about the way things unfolded in the first season, Dhumal expressed satisfaction over the conduct of the league which. However, he also termed as one of the challenging projects of his career. The immediate precedence of the Women’s T20 World Cup primarily posed the challenges. Therefore, BBCI had a very constricted space of time to work in which the organisation successfully managed to pull off.
“It has been a phenomenal ride so far and quite a challenging one given the time slot we had to start the WPL. We are satisfied with the way things have progressed, we did not have much of a window as the World Cup was there and the girls had just about a week to come back and start,” Dhumal acknowledged.
