Photo Credit: Cricket Netherlands
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the largest and highest-paid cricket league in the world – that is, among men. But in March of this year, a women’s IPL will take place for the first time, the WPL. Very likely with a Dutch cricketer: Sterre Kalis (23) has been included in the preselection.
The Indian cricket association BCCI has stipulated that every team must include a player from an ‘Associate’ country – say the global sub-top. There were eight in the pre-selection.
Teams could enter an auction to get one of the licenses. Five parties ran off with it. The price tag: $572 million.
For example, the Gujarat Giants team paid USD 158 million to have their women’s team play in Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad houses the brand new Narendra Modi Stadium with a capacity of 132,000 spectators – easily the largest sports stadium in the world.
Royal Challengers (Bengaluru), Delhi Capitals, Capri Global (Luckknow) and Mumbai Indians (Mumbai) are the four other franchises that were allowed to enter a women’s team. The names of the selected players will be announced on February 13.
Cricket is the second largest sport in the world.
Sterre Kalis: “I am extremely proud to have been included in the shortlist. Hopefully playing in the WPL will become a reality on auction day and that dream will come true!”
See the complete list of players here: https://www.bcci.tv/articles/2…
