The BCCI has invited applications for "the right to own and operate" teams at the inaugural women's IPL, which is expected to run from March 3-26.
A press statement from the BCCI on Tuesday asked for "reputed entities" to make a non-refundable payment of INR 5 lakh (USD 6000 approx.) by January 21 to procure the "invitation to tender", which details the eligibility criteria for potential buyers. The final discretion on who gets to bid lies with the BCCI, however, following a technical evaluation process.
In February last year, then BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had said that the women's IPL would get off the ground in 2023. In August, the BCCI zeroed in on a window in March. Subsequently, the BCCI advanced the women's domestic calendar, which generally runs from November to April, to accommodate the women's IPL.
Calls for the Women's IPL to kick off has been gaining steam since their runners-up finish at the 50-over World Cup in 2017. When they reached the finals of the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2020, it gained further momentum before covid-19 stalled women's cricket, and the sport in general, in India.
Since 2018, the BCCI has been conducting the Women's T20 Challenge to run alongside the IPL in a bid to test the waters before expanding. In 2020, they brought a title sponsor on board for the tournament. Since then, there have been murmurs about a number of existing franchises being keen on expanding their footprint in the women's game.
Last month, the BCCI had invited bids fore media rights for the proposed five-team tournament between 2023-27.