Ellyse Perry urges BCCI to host full IPL tournament for women

Australian women’s team mainstay Ellyse Perry has a special request for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The decorated all-rounder believes that the Indian board should now be focusing on organizing a full women’s IPL tournament. The Indian Premier League, hosted by BCCI for the male players, has been a massive hit.

Since its inception in 2008, IPL has acted as a catalyst in increasing the popularity of the gentlemen’s game in the country. However, women cricketers are yet to receive their share of appreciation and recognition, especially in India. Ellyse believes that conducted an IPL for women too will increase the popularity of the sport among females.

The Australian star seemed highly impressed with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA) for hosting Women’s Big Bash League and Hundred. The 30-year-old wants BCCI to take inspiration from the same and pull the trigger.

I think it’s fair to say the next frontier is an IPL: Ellyse Perry

At present, the Indian board organizes a T20 Challenge for the Women player which features only three teams. The demand for a bigger and better tournament for the females in floating in the cricket fraternity for quite some time now.

“I actually think it is even more so an encouragement for other boards to seriously look at introducing professional women’s T20 competitions, particularly the BCCI and a full IPL for women. Because there is a wonderful opportunity there and it’s increasingly becoming a great commercial opportunity for cricket boards to bring in a women’s side of the competition,” Perry told The Age.

“Not just from a spectacle or entertainment point of view, but also because growing the game in their country and getting more young girls playing cricket and being involved is so important to the viability of the sport in the future. The more we can have these competitions spring up around the world, I think it’s fair to say the next frontier is an IPL,” the all-rounder added.

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