Mithali Raj encouraged by BCCI's support for women's cricket; expects six-team WIPL in two years

India ODI skipper Mithali Raj lauded the BCCI's commitment to the women's game saying they have done extremely well in difficult times to arrange the Women's T20 Challenge, and also the proposed tour to Sri Lanka in November-December. She added that she is confident the board will be able to hold a full-fledged women's IPL in another couple of years.



Raj, who will take part in the Women's T20 Challenge that is to be played in the UAE between November 4 to 9 is currently training in Bangalore. While the squads for the tournament are yet to be officially announced, the selected Indian players have been informed and will assemble in Mumbai on October 13 for a week-long quarantine before they leave for Dubai on October 21.



"For BCCI, women's cricket is a priority because hosting the women's IPL in such difficult times, that itself tells they want to have the continuity going from the last edition into this year," she told India Today. "I think in another two year's time we will have a platform to have women's' IPL too. Somewhere hosting the women's IPL and giving us the prime time and giving us the venue to play says that the BCCI is pushing forward or giving women's cricket the kind of priority that we women's cricketers need."



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"Also, getting these bilateral series going, on the whole, I don't see how we are not looked after, we are well looked after by the BCCI and the players definitely are looking forward to playing in the UAE."



With plenty of talk about the lack of depth in Indian cricket and the need to strengthen the domestic system before introducing a full-fledged women's IPL, the Indian skipper said she believes there in enough talent in the country to fill six teams.



She added that a franchise-based tournament would do wonders for the women's game in India, in terms of popularity, viewership and as a talent scouting system.



"All of us are looking forward to playing the WIPL. I have seen how the viewership skyrocketed with the men's IPL. And I am sure that if the matches are televised, we are coming back from a good 3-4 month hiatus, maybe we may not be at our best but we are certainly going to give our best and put on a great show so that there's continuity," Raj said.



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"In a couple of year's time, there will maybe be a full-fledged franchise sort of women's IPL in India."



"We are already fielding three teams. Last edition and this year, it's a three-team tournament. So maybe, we can have 6 teams. You can relax a bit of a rule of fielding overseas players, maybe for the first edition as the tournament continues, maybe we change the rules. But to start off, 6 teams with quality international players and top-class domestic players, I personally feel that should start the whole franchise based league," she concluded.