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- Franchise costs to be paid in equal instalments over five years
- Tender documents to be sent out to all interested parties
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has set the base price for a Women’s Indian Premier League (WIPL) franchise at I₹ 400 crore (US$49.1 million), according to local reports.
News outlet News18 reports that the organisation believes the upcoming franchise auction could fetch a fee of between I₹ 1000 crore (US$122.9 million) and I₹ 1500 crore (US$184.3 million) for each of the five teams. The franchise cost would then be paid in equal instalments over five years.
The base price reportedly set by the BCCI would be the same as the fee set for the men’s IPL before its inaugural season in 2008.
The BCCI is expected to send out tender documents to those interested in buying teams, with a date yet to be confirmed for the procedure. While there is said to be interest among current men’s IPL franchise owners, other interested parties will also be given a tender to make an approach for a women’s team.
The competition’s broadcast rights, similarly to the franchises, will also be sold by the BCCI in a closed auction.
It was previously confirmed that the tournament will take place from March 2023 over a one-month window. There will be 22 matches played in total, with each team to initially play against each other twice. The top-ranked team would be joined in the final by the winner of a playoff between the second and third-placed teams.
Each team is to have a maximum squad of 18 players, with no more than six overseas players on their rosters.
Harmanpreet Kaur, India’s national team captain, recently spoke of her excitement for the upcoming tournament. She told News18: “The women’s IPL is something we are looking forward to. It will be a good experience, especially for the domestic players who are good but were not getting the chance to play at the international level.”
