Women’s Premier League 2023 – Time in the history of India, India has started the women’s premier league. It is a considerable step taken by India. The T20 cricket tournament will be for three weeks. It means tournaments presume big names, big money, and a big audience. Men version of the tournament is doubled as compared to Women but the attention in the women’s game is unparalleled.
According to League executives, it’s a momentous day for female cricketers and players are hopeful that it will increase interest in the game. To discover what it means to the grassroots players, BBC Asian Network also chatted with one player who would be participating in Mumbai.
Women’s Premier League 2023 – Women Cricketers Hope This New League Would Inspires Them
“Such a huge potential”
Issy wong
You may know Issy Wong on Radio 1 Breakfast with Greg James. She participated in The Hundred, a UK league. Issy belongs to West Midlands. After being trapped by Mumbai Indians. She has flown to India to take part in the WPL The 20-year-old Issy says she’s entered into her new role “head first”. She also says team members have welcomed her tremendously.
She believes that the team meetings are fun since the head coaches use English and then have it translated into Hindi. We seem to have established a strong sense of teamwork.
Izzy, who has been playing cricket on teams since she was a child, claims that the last five years have brought monumental change to the sport in the United Kingdom.
She claims that “cricket at any level below international” was played for fun. And there are probably more than a hundred women in this nation who play cricket at a professional level.
It is Issy’s sincere wish that competitions like the WPL would help boost attendance.
She believes that this is how the game develops as a result of competition.
The sport of cricket has the ability to encourage and motivate both girls and boys to try it out or continue playing.
Women’s Premier League 2023 – Women Cricketers Hope This New League Would Inspires Them
WPL: Crunching numbers
l Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and UP Warriorz. These are five franchises that participated.
l A total of almost £500m were obtained by their owner
l Some of the finest players have received six-figure contracts, including India’s Smriti Mandana, who received £340,000.
l Nat Sciver-Brunt of England came close following, selling for more than £300,000 as well.
l Five-year television rights were sold for about £100 million.
According to cricket coach Sim, ladies have never had it so good.
Women’s Premier League 2023 – Women Cricketers Hope This New League Would Inspires Them
Sim
At the age of 25 Sim is a cricket coach at Warwickshire County Cricket Club. She started playing when she was only 15 years old.
She thinks the Women’s IPL is “absolutely wonderful,” but concedes it’s taken a long time to get here.
Nothing like this existed while I was playing cricket. And this was just a few years back “she claims.
Playing as a career is really great, not just a hobby, so I’m proud and glad for the chances for the females, she said.
In terms of size and money, the WPL has a long way to go before it can compete with the men’s game.
Despite top players earning over £300,000, their male counterparts are said to earn around £1.8 million.
But the money involved in the new competition is still significantly higher than what female players in the UK would ordinarily receive.
Women’s Premier League 2023 – Women Cricketers Hope This New League Would Inspires Them
Samreen
Samreen believes witnessing women play at the highest level has encouraged her. Samreen, 18, is one of Sim’s trainees and says she wants to go pro, with so many new women-only teams and leagues popping up, I have to agree. What a fantastic chance for women’s cricket to take the next step forward,” she exclaims.
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Samreen was inspired after having the opportunity to play street games with cricketers Sophie Ecclestone and Nat Sciver-Brunt.
It was an incredible opportunity,” she says. It’s inspiring to see other women athletes because it motivates you to work harder so you can be like them.
It’s incredible what these new chances are doing for women.”
