It is very likely that the player auction for the Women’s Premier League 2023 (WPL) will take place on February 11 in Delhi or February 13 in Mumbai. The players’ auction was scheduled to take place on February 6 by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), however, it has been reported that the franchise owners have asked the board to postpone it.
Less than a month remains for the five new organizations to get ready for the tournament’s inaugural season, which is scheduled to run from March 4 to March 24. The owners are trying to put together their coaching staff before the auction, which is one of the causes for the postponement of the auction date. Additionally, the WPL teams’ owners have stakes in the ongoing ILT20 2023 and SA20 2023 competitions, both of which have finals set for February 12 and 13, respectively. Although the governing bodies have not yet officially confirmed it, it is anticipated that all of the matches of the prestigious tournament will take place in March.
ESPNcricinfo reported that the BCCI is planning to hold the entire first edition of the event in Mumbai, with all 22 games likely to be scheduled at Brabourne Stadium and Dr. D.Y. Patil National Sports Academy. Due to the proximity of the WPL calendar to the Women’s T20 World Cup 2023, which concludes on February 26, one city will host the competition in order to avoid logistical difficulties. The players will gain from not having to travel or face other hurdles by playing in a single place. The move, though, is likely to enrage club owners who will be hoping for home and away matches, much like the men’s IPL tournament.
