CCI, DY Patil to host WPL from March 4-26;

Mumbai-Ahmedabad to play opening game

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is planning a blockbuster opening for the Women’s Premier League (WPL). A tentative schedule, being circulated among the relevant authorities of the yet to be launched league, says the first match will be between Team Mumbai and Team Ahmedabad on March 4 (Saturday).

It may look like just another opening but the inherent significance of the match-up cannot be easily escaped. In reality, it is in fact Mukesh Ambani versus Gautam Adani, two of the biggest names in Indian corporate and arguably two of the richest people in India and the world.

This is seen as a mouth-watering match-up, something that was also hyped up by the organisers of the ILT20 in UAE, where both have teams. The first match in Dubai, on January 27, was washed out and in the return game in Abu Dhabi recently, the Gulf Giants of Adani beat Ambani’s MI Emirates.

The BCCI is planning to kick-off the WPL at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai. As first reported by Cricbuzz, on December 21, and subsequently also, the league is planned to be staged entirely in Mumbai and at two venues – CCI and DY Patil Stadium. The Wankhede, the primary venue in the city, is being left for an India-Australia ODI on March 17 and IPL, which is likely to be launched on April 1. The return match between Mumbai and Ahmedabad is scheduled for March 14.

In the second match of the tentative WPL schedule, Team Bengaluru has been pitted against Team Delhi at CCI on March 5, when a double header has been slated. Team Ahmedabad will return to play on Day Two, against Team Lucknow, at DY Patil Stadium on Sunday night.

As per the schedule, three of the five competing sides seem to be making the play-offs, with the top team directly entering the final and second and third-placed sides playing the Eliminator. The five-team, 22-match league will have five off days, the first one being on March 17 and again two days later, the second break, on March 19. The next two are after the completion of the league stage, on March 22 and 23. The Eliminator is on March 24 at CCI and with the final on March 26, a Sunday, at DY Patil Stadium after the fifth and final off day on March 25.

Meanwhile, the BCCI has called all five owners for signing of the franchise agreements. The signings are expected to be done on Friday (February 3) itself, unless the representatives of anyone are not able to make it to Mumbai on the day. The signing also confirms the presence of all five sides, putting to rest any speculation about last minute changes among participants.

(Cricbuzz)