‘It's a very interesting stage’ – Anjum Chopra calls for a ‘structured plan’ for initiating Women’s IPL

Former Indian cricketer Anjum Chopra reckoned that the Women’s IPL is, well and truly, on the cards. However, she also said that “a structured plan” is needed to take forward proceedings and the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t made things easier for the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Recently, Indian T20I skipper Harmanpreet Kaur won the Player of the Tournament award when she represented the Melbourne Renegades in the previous edition of the Women’s Big Bash League. Since then, the calls for conducting the Women’s IPL have intensified.

“Women’s IPL… it’s a very interesting stage. I understand the chorus is happening and people are saying that it should happen especially after Harmanpreet (Kaur) winning the Player of the Tournament (WBBL) award,” Chopra told Hindustan Times.

We can of course have a shorter version of the Women’s IPL, says Anjum Chopra

Chopra, who played 12 Tests, 127 ODIs and 18 T20Is for Team India, said that a tournament with around four to five teams is still a possibility. However, she also felt that going in a well-planned manner holds a lot of importance.

“The day the BCCI decides to conduct a women’s IPL it will happen, the point is, the resistance is not only because they do not want to start it or they do not want a women’s tournament.

“I think there might be some other issues or questions on how it can be done. We can of course have a shorter version of the IPL, maybe with 4 or 5 proper teams with international players,” she stated

“I’m sure we can have a structured plan for initiating a women’s IPL. It may not be eight teams to 10 teams, it can be just five or six or even four teams. But in a very structured manner,” Chopra added.

Chopra was also of the opinion that the BCCI would require a lot of manpower if they wish to conduct the Women’s IPL along with the Men’s IPL.

Although the Women’s IPL is yet to get underway, three seasons of the Women’s T20 Challenge have already taken place. The Trailblazers, Supernovas and Velocity take part in the tournament. However, the event couldn’t take place in 2021 due to the hassles of the coronavirus pandemic.