BCCI is trying its level best to grow women’s cricket in the country. IPL changed the face of cricket in India and the board expects the tournament to bring about the same change to women’s cricket as well. Taking the first step in that direction, BCCI had a Women’s T20 Challenge during the final week of IPL 2019, which proved to be a successful move.
Continuing further in that direction, the Indian cricket governing body has decided to have another mini challenger tournament with four teams probably set to compete in the tourney. Unfortunately, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire world came to a standstill during the IPL window. This pandemic compelled BCCI to delay IPL and also the women’s competition.
Since the situation is coming under control now, the board has planned IPL 2020 to happen in the UAE during September. The tourney would go on till November and another Women’s Challenger event will likely happen then. This tourney would clash with the Women’s Big Bash League and Australian women’s player Alyssa Healy is seemingly unhappy with this development.
Healy engaged in a war of words for popular journalist Boria Majumdar on Twitter. Boria backed the BCCI’s decision and said that it should come to a agreement with Cricket Australia because a few Indian players compete in the WBBL. Also, most of the international stars participate in the Women’s Big Bash League. The players from Australia would miss out on the Women’s IPL challenger event if it clashes with the WBBL.
Here’s how the two above-mentioned names had a war of words on Twitter, which even had a few words from veteran Indian women’s cricket team players Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj.
So during the WBBL…. cool https://t.co/w5aNhN9FTw
— Alyssa Healy (@ahealy77) August 2, 2020
So the Indian players who’ve already signed wbbl contracts will do what? And all the international marquee players that will be in aus for wbbl? Good luck with it…..
— Alyssa Healy (@ahealy77) August 2, 2020
Our tournament is set and prepared. There won’t be any understanding. Fairly sure players will abide by their contractual agreements in Aus. Especially considering it’ll be leading into finals.
— Alyssa Healy (@ahealy77) August 2, 2020
And from what I know 3-4 Indian players have WBBL contracts. If the Indian tournament isn’t held the entire lot of the Indian girls miss out and it will be a blow to the game. So it’s not ideal but I think you all will have to pick and choose. Aus Eng play on 16 sept. 3/3
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) August 2, 2020
Let me say what I’ve been avoiding:
Sooooo dumb
— Alyssa Healy (@ahealy77) August 2, 2020
Here are the views of Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj on this situation. It will be interesting to see how the BCCI plans this event.
I think as an Indian player and looking at the indian women’s game the bcci doing this is hugely welcome. We need this for every woman who plays the game in India. These are tough times. And unless our board supports us the game will suffer.
— Jhulan Goswami (@JhulanG10) August 2, 2020
The Bcci is gradually building towards having a full fledged women’s ipl in a few years with the franchise module. This is an ipl challenger of sorts( 4 teams) At this juncture it’s important the building process is not halted thus it’s a good move to have it alongside the men’s
— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) August 2, 2020
