Women’s T20 Challenge likely to be cancelled for 2021

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials sealed the fate of the 14^th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) by confirming the UAE as the host of the remaining 31 games. The verdict on ICC T20 World Cup is not out yet, but there is almost a decision taken on the Women’s T20 Challenge.

The three-team women’s IPL which is running successfully from 2018 and has given future stars like Shafali Verma, Radha Yadav and Harleen Deol, is almost certain to not be organized this year considering the rescheduled IPL fixture has no scope to include the Women’s T20 Challenge.

Although there is not an official word yet on the tournament getting cancelled, a source in the know of things confirmed the development about the three-team tournament’s future.

There was no discussion on Women’s T20 Challenge in the last SGM but the board has already finalized this. India will be touring Australia in September for a long tour and with WBBL following, so naturally, we are not in a position to host the event,” a senior BCCI official told Cricket.com.

Women’s T20 Challenge might not be played this year in the UAE

The tour looks likely to be cancelled because India’s women team is set to travel Down Under for an all-format series, which starts on September 19 and goes till October 11. Meanwhile, the remainder of the 14^th season of IPL tentatively starts in September third week, which puts the Women’s T20 Challenge’s future for this season in doubt.

As per the original plan, the BCCI had decided to conduct the T20 Challenge in Delhi during the IPL playoffs but without giving any official news the board intimated the players to be ready for the cancellation. Last year, too, the BCCI officials stated at the eleventh hour that the Women’s T20 Challenge will go ahead in the UAE.  This year, a few women cricketers are hopeful of the three-team tournament being staged, but due to logistical challenges, the Women’s IPL might be called off this year.

“Title Sponsors Reliance Jio has also been informed of the development by the board. There is a World Cup in a few months and our focus lies in conducting both IPL and World Cup smoothly,” the source added.