Women's T20 league to get underway in India this June

MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed rumors that a women's T20 cricket league along the lines of the celebrated IPL has been established and is about to get underway in June this year, in a press statement this afternoon. "Indeed, we are starting a women's IPL. The phenomenal success of the IPL has prompted us to consider a similar league to give opportunities to the women cricketers that represent various teams so that they can come together in a celebration of T20 cricket.", BCCI president N. Srinivasan was quoted as saying. "Of course, this was Lalit Modi's idea since his ouster from the IPL, but we have embraced the idea nonetheless", he added.

"We will win the WIPL"- Shakti Kapoor,
owner of the Lucknow Londiyas

The bidding for franchises had started as long back as February 2012 and over the past year or so, no less than eight teams have been signed. However, in stark contrast to the men's IPL, most of the teams in the women's IPL (WIPL) have smaller cities as their center rather than the metropolitan cities. Seasoned Bollywood star Shakti Kapoor, who bought one of the high profile teams, the Lucknow Londiyas, oozed with more than just confidence. "Aaauuuuu! We will win the WIPL. Tunna Tunna.", he said with typical flamboyance that has endeared him to the public over the years. Kapoor is also keen to give chances to budding uncapped women cricketers from across the country. "Any girl who wants to play in the IPL can come and see me in my office from 9 pm to 6 am. I want to see your talent", he said with a wink. 

Among the other Bollywood celebrities to own a team was the accomplished director Karan Johar, known for his brand of critically acclaimed cinema. Johar, who turned up for the auction in a shirt with an alarmingly dipping neckline, bought the Punjab based team, Chandigarh Chamiyas, and was looking forward to what he referred to as "team bonding"  during the first season of WIPL. "I really love to bond with my crew members. I feel it brings out the best in them. Look at Shahrukh, for example. Results do matter, but at the end of the day, it is all about loving your family", said a visibly emotional Karan Johar.

Karan Johar, owner of the Chandigarh Chamiyas,
says the focus is on team bonding

Not to be left behind, the Indian prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh announced the launch of the team Ferozepur Firangis, which will be the first sports team in the country that will be officially owned by a political party. "Congress has announced a budget of 250 crore to build team Ferozepur Firangis over the next five years. We are confident that together, we will achieve the goals we have set ourselves" he stated, not mentioning clearly what those goals were. Rumor had it that though Dr. Singh was the mouthpiece of the team, the major decisions would be made by a higher power, as was evident from the team name. Dr. Singh was quick to dismiss these rumors. "These are baseless facts. We know who is behind that. This is a concerted effort to destabilize our party. The perpetrators will be put to justice. Law will take its own course", he mentioned while looking confused.  The slogan of the team was reported to be "Theek hai.".

Sahara India Pvt Ltd, who were the sponsors of the IPL team Pune Warriors XI, entered the WIPL fray by launching the team BeSAHARA Behenjies. The WIPL has already had its share of controversies when the Shiney Ahuja owned Nagpur Naukranis was ruled by the supreme court to be renamed as Maharashtra Maharanis as the former name was provocative to the owner. Among the other teams were Chennai Choris, Aurangabad Aurats and Goregaon Goris. 

The tournament will consist two groups of four teams each which play each other on a round robin basis. The top four teams  from each group (i.e. all four teams) then advance into the super eight stage where they play against each other on a home and away basis. The top four from the super eights qualify for the semifinals. The entire WIPL is scheduled to include all of 74 matches over a period of 45 days. 

Isn't that a huge number of matches? 

"We have tried to keep the number of matches down to a minimum" said Ratnasekara Kulaweera Mudiyanselage Jeevika Hashantha Selgum Fernando, the Sri Lankan representative of the WIPL, "just like my name", he chuckled. "We want to make sure everyone gets a fair number of games and our sponsors are not disappointed."

Male cheerleaders will be the norm in WIPL

Among the rules of the tournament that are different from the IPL, there will be four strategic timeouts in each innings, one each of which can be called upon by the batsman, bowler, wicketkeeper and the sponsor. The timeouts shall happen even in rained out matches, Srinivasan reiterated. "Previously, we have lost a lot of time due to rain. This time we will make sure the strategic time outs are not compromised because of this as they are very critical to the game", said Srinivasan. Since it takes only five overs to constitute a game in the case of a rain interruption, does it mean there will be a time out after every over? Affirmative, according to Srinivasan, "Absolutely. In shortened games, strategy becomes even more important. Which ball to hit, which fielder to target, which commercial to display, it is all part of careful strategy."

One of the more eyebrow raising feature in the WIPL is the employment of male cheerleaders, a move suggested and endorsed by none other than the owner of Chandigarh Chamiyas, Karan Johar. "I am absolutely thrilled about this. We need something for the male, I mean female spectators too." he was quoted. Won't this account for poor viewership from male spectators? BCCI has a solution.

"The team uniforms are designed to look like cheerleader uniforms. We will keep it short and sweet, just like T20 games. It is very important that everyone sees their talent" said Shakti Kapoor with another wink.

Nathan Bracken: Almost a WIPL contract

While Steve Waugh quoted a month back that he would like to see a female cricketer in each team of the Australian T20 tournament Big Bash League,. Srinivasan was asked whether the reverse was a possibility in WIPL.

"We are considering it at the moment. It is not an impossibility. Right now it is quite a challenge to fill up these eight teams with just women cricketers. You know there are a lot of unbought players in the IPL. We welcome them to undergo sex change operations and take this wonderful opportunity to play for the WIPL. In fact, some of the team owners have offered to cover the operation charges if they feel the players are worth it. Some players have tried to sneak in to the auction even without an operation but that is a huge risk they are taking." He was referring to the case of Nathan Bracken, who was almost bought at the WIPL auction last month before his masculine signature on the contract gave him away.

So, will the pay package for the WIPL match those of their male counterparts? The answer was a resounding no. Jhulan Goswami, the fast bowler who plays for India, said it was disappointing. "The packages are extremely modest. It is slightly more than the government job I am currently employed in. The good part is that the HRA they are offering me is 35% instead of 30%." Goswami was in the process of negotiating a contract with the Goregaon Goris as we were interviewing her. "Unfortunately the BCCI is turning a deaf ear to our concerns and asked us to consult sporting bodies which deal with sports and games other than cricket. When we reminded them we also play cricket for India, they said they will look into the matter."

WIPL is all set to take centre stage this June

"25,000 per game is too less.", she was overheard as saying during the negotiations.

In response to this, Srinivasan said the WIPL was not without challenges. "As people invest more and more, we (BCCI) can make more money. That will help us popularize the game and add a couple more teams in a year or two and make even more money." And what about increasing the pay packages? "The women draw comparable remuneration. May be a few lakhs less but that is about it. If they want to earn more money in cricket, they can join the IPL." he retorted, "as cheerleaders of course."

Lalit Modi, who came up with the original idea of WIPL, was also present at the press conference. "I can assure you that the WIPL will be total fun. There will be lots of entertainment, Bollywood stars, cheerleaders, commercials, and lots of women in skimpy clothes. Isn't that what IPL is all about?"

"Oh, and there will be cricket too." he added.

The WIPL kicks off on 10th June with the Chennai Choris taking on the Goregaon Goris in a match at the Margadarshi School Cricket Ground in Virar.

We hope.