Diana Edulji promises to organise more Women's matches during next IPL

The BCCI organised the Women’s T20 Challenge during the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year in response to the growing demand to stage an IPL for the women. The game was held at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai ahead of the first qualifier between the Chennai Super Kings and the Sunrisers Hyderabad. It was played on a sultry afternoon and received a lukewarm response from the crowd. However, Diana Edulji has promised to organise more such games next year as there is also a possibility of a Women’s IPL being organised as a seperate event.

As many as 10 overseas cricketers took part in the historic encounter including the likes of Ellyse Perry and Danielle Wyatt. Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur led the Trailblazers and the Supernovas. After a hard-fought contest, it was the Supernovas who managed to win the game by 3 wickets in the last over.

The board did the best

It was organised hastily by the BCCI and many lamented the fact that it could’ve been played on an off day rather than in the afternoon as the stands at the Wankhede Stadium were majorly empty. Also the fact that tickets for the Qualifier were valid for this contest further hurt the crowd turnover, if it was an open entry game, there would’ve been a far better response. Edulji, a member of the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA), has promised to stage more exhibition games next year.

“In my view, the match was a success and many followed it on television. Yes, there were not many spectators but that was also the case during the 2016 Women’s World T20. So, I am not so sure if the BCCI could have scheduled the game better but considering it was accommodated during the IPL, the board did the best it could. I am sure more games like these will be played next season, if not a full-fledged IPL,” she was quoted as saying by Times of India.

Edulji also spoke to the foreign players ahead of the game and revealed that they were excited to play cricket in India and were already looking forward to visiting the country again next year.

“The foreigners were very excited being part of this one-off game and they have already told me that they are looking forward to being here next year. They also appreciated the BCCI offer to get them over here at such a short notice,” the administrator added.

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