Following the success of the inaugural Women’s Premier League, the second edition of the WPL is likely to follow a multi-city home-away format similar to the IPL.
All the matches of the inaugural WPL were played out at the DY Patil Stadium and the Brabourne Stadium. But, as per the new plan, the matches for the second season may be played across Mumbai and Bengaluru.
“The final decision (about venues) might come on December 9 (the day of the WPL auction) but it is highly likely that this year it (WPL) will follow the multi-city format with Mumbai and Bengaluru being the front-runners at this moment,” a BCCI official told PTI.
“The WPL was received well by the fans in the opening year, and it is the right time to take it to different cities. Bengaluru always has a good audience for women’s cricket, and it has now grown because of the RCB women’s team.”
One of the biggest reasons behind the decision was to overcome the tough timelines that players face with respect to international cricket as well.
Mumbai and Karnataka cricket association officials too expressed readiness to host the matches, if indeed they come their way.
Royal Challengers Bangalore women’s team captain Smriti Mandhana too share her thoughts on the decision and backed the multi-city format for the WPL.
“It would be great to have WPL in multi-city format. That might be the next step and I am sure people right here would look into it and make it happen. As an RCB fan, I would love to play in Chinnaswamy where people are chanting RCB, RCB’ and just to be in that environment,” Mandhana stated.
“That is something which is one step ahead for us that it (multi-city format) can reach to places where women’s cricket hasn’t reached and to get a new audience going into women’s cricket,” Mandhana added.
The auction for the second edition of the WPL is set to take place on December 9 in Mumbai.
(with inputs from agencies)
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