Image Credit- BCCI
Beginning in the “second or third week” of
February, “one state” in India will host the second Women’s Premier
League competition. Jay Shah, the secretary of the BCCI, reaffirmed this to
reporters on Saturday following the WPL auction in Mumbai.
“It is decided that we will have the tournament
in February,” he said. “Most probably we will start in the second or
third week.
“As far as the venue is concerned, it will be
held in one state only so that it is better logistically. Logistics are very
important for us this time, next time we can figure it [having more venues]
out.
“We can do it either in Bangalore [Karnataka]
also or Uttar Pradesh also. We have so many venues, even in Gujarat, where we
have Ahmedabad, Rajkot and after a few years Baroda can build their own
stadium. Basically, it is a joint call between the franchises and the BCCI. We
will sit together and we will decide. We will let you know. It will be in one
state, that is for sure.”
The Brabourne Stadium and the DY Patil Sports Academy
served as the two venues for the first WPL tournament last year, which was
limited to Mumbai. The current women’s international season for India will only
be held in Mumbai and will include matches against Australia and England.
When asked if there was a plan for India Women to play
in other cities or states, Shah said: “The domestic season is going on, so
we will have to see – where the venue is available, we will have it. There are
[other] matches happening in Gujarat, Chandigarh, Ranchi… it is not the case
that we want to organise matches in Mumbai only.”
The auction ahead of the second WPL was held in Mumbai
on Saturday afternoon, with the uncapped Indian pair of Kashvee Gautam and
Vrinda Dinesh commanding the biggest pay cheques.