Sports
BCCI set to allow five overseas players in Women’s IPL
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has set INR 12 crore as salary cap for the Women’s Indian Premier League (WIPL), being launched next month. The fund size will have an annual increment of INR 1.5 crore in the subsequent four years and will soar up to INR 18 crore by the end of the first five-year cycle. There is no provision for the icon players in the five-team league.
As per the information communicated to the potential participants on Thursday (January 19), the BCCI has said that the player purse will start with INR 12 crore in 2023, will swell to INR 13.5 crore in 2024, to INR 15 crore in 2025, INR 16.5 crore in 2026 and finally INR 18 crore in 2027. This is the guideline for the first five years during which there will be five teams in the first three years and six teams in the last two years of the cycle.
In another important decision, the BCCI said it will allow five foreign players in the playing XI with at least one cricketer from an Associate country allowed in the XI. This is a shift from the IPL rule where only four foreign players are allowed. The fifth player, a source from a potential new franchise said, will have to be from an Associate. “The teams will have the option of fielding five foreign players as long as the fifth player is from an Associate nation,” a source, in knowledge of the development, said.
The dates for the maiden edition have not been confirmed but they are expected to be from March 4 to 26. In all likelihood, the league will be played in Mumbai with the Brabourne Stadium in South Mumbai and the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai being potential venues for the 22 games in the first season. The Wankhede is likely to be kept ready for the IPL, which is likely to start on March 31 or April 1.
The BCCI recently sold the media rights, for INR 950 crore to Viacom 18, and it is in the process of identifying the five franchises who will be taking part in the first three years. The franchises will be revealed on January 25 after a closed bidding process. The BCCI has apparently sold 29 ITTs but the exact number of parties interested could be around 15.
The prize money for the league will be INR 10 crore for the players and then for the teams, it will be INR 6 crore for the winning side and INR 3 crore for the runners-up. The third placed team will earn INR 1 crore. The BCCI said, “100 per cent of player prize money is to be distributed amongst the players only.”
(Cricbuzz)
India capped off a dominant tri-series campaign in Colombo with a resounding win over Sri Lanka, posting their highest-ever women’s ODI total on Sri Lankan soil—344 for five —before bowling the hosts out for 245.
Smriti Mandhana led the charge with a superb 11th ODI hundred—her first against Sri Lanka—anchoring partnerships of 70 with Pratika Rawal and 120 with Harleen Deol.
Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Jemimah Rodrigues chipped in with brisk 40s, while India smashed 90 runs in the last 10 overs.
Despite a spirited effort, Sri Lanka’s daunting chase faltered. Chamari Atapattu’s 50 and a few half-century stands weren’t enough to close the gap. Seamer Amanjot Kaur struck early, removing two of the top three, while offspinner Sneh Rana starred with four for 38, finishing as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker.
India’s batting wasn’t without drama—Rawal survived an early chance, and Mandhana was twice let off before unleashing her full range of strokes. She was especially brutal on Atapattu, sweeping her repeatedly through square leg and cover en route to a 92-ball century.
Amanjot’s return in the middle overs derailed the chase further, bowling Gunaratne and setting up Rana’s match-turning spell. Atapattu, despite reaching her 19th ODI fifty, was undone by Rana, who later removed three more to slam the door shut.
Late resistance from Sanjeewani and Kumari delayed the inevitable, but a run-out and two quick Rana strikes wrapped up the win.
India’s comprehensive display sent a strong message ahead of the Women’s World Cup, reaffirming their title credentials.
Brief scores:
India
342 for seven (Mandhana 116, Rodrigues 44, Kumari 2-59) beat Sri Lanka 245 (Atapattu 51, Rana 4-38, Amanjot 3-54) by 97 runs.
Apna Perera and Dinara de Silvaemerged as the men’s and women’s singles champions respectively at the 110th Colombo Championships continued at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association clay courts.
In the men’s singles final, Apna beat Ashen Silva 7-6, 6-1. Dinara registered convincing 6-1, 6-2 win over Venuli Jayasinghe in the women’s final.
In the boys’ Under 18 semi-finals, Ashlin de Silva beat Nethmika Wickramasinghe 6-2, 6-1 while Mayooran Kubheran beat Aahil Kaleel 6-7, 7-6, 6-4.
National champion Chamod Yodasinghe secured a creditable second place rank for an impressive performace of 10.27 seconds as he out did a strong field in the 100 metres at the Dubai Grand Prix on Friday.
Yodasinghe who was entered only for the 4x100m relay received a golden opportunity in Dubai when his request to run the 100 metres there was granted by the organisers. The athlete trained by sprint coach Sanjeewa Weerakkody equalled his personal best (10.27 seconds) in winning his race.
Incidentally, his winning time was second only to the winner of the first race where top ranked athletes including Yupun Abeykoon competed.
Oman’s Ali Al Balooshi was the fastest as he clocked 10.19 seconds while Abeykoon finished fifth with a time of 10.39 seconds.
Abeykoon who was making his first 100 metres appearance of the year was ranked sixth overall.
In the 4×100 metres relay Sri Lanka’s quartet finished third in a time of 39.41 seconds.
Yodasinghe will next compete at the Asian Athletics Championships later this month.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s 4×400 metres mixed relay team finished last in their heat at the World Relays in China yesterday.
by Reemus Fernando
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