Mumbai, Jan 25 (Representative) The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday announced the winners of the bid for the Women’s Premier League. The premier cricket body also announced five cities set to be featured in the first edition of the WPL league. “We are pleased to announce the following successful bidders (subject to definitive documentation and other formalities being completed). The 5 (five) franchises will participate in the inaugural season of the WPL, subject to the bidders completing the post-bid formalities as specified in the Invitation to Tender document,” BCCI stated in a statement. From the sale of five teams, BCCI earned Rs 4,669.99 crore. “It is a historic day for women’s cricket … The collective bid of Rs 4,669.99 crore shows that our stakeholders thoroughly believe in the concept and have faith in BCCI’s vision and plans for the league. “I believe that with a record Media Rights valuation earlier and now with these high bids, the league will be commercially independent and self-sustaining property,” BCCI Honorary Secretary Jay Shah said.
The purchasing rate of each franchise and the five cities are: Adani Sportsline Pvt Ltd- Ahmedabad- 1289 crores, Indiawin Sports Pvt Ltd -Mumbai- 912.99 crores, Royal Challengers Sports- Bengaluru- 901 crores, JSW GMR Cricket Pvt Ltd – Delhi- 810 crores, Capri Global Holdings Pvt Ltd – Lucknow- 757 crores. Argus Partners was the legal advisor to the BCCI. The league will surely provide more strength, but more importantly, create a more equitable future for women and girls in our sport, Shah said. “We are standing at a juncture where women’s cricket is set to grow by leaps and bounds and the WPL and the pay-parity decision earlier are significant milestones,” he said. Congratulating the winners for making successful bids to own WPL teams, BCCI President Roger Binny said the women’s league will give players from India and abroad a chance to learn and grow together. It will also pave the way for development at the grassroots level with the inclusion of more women cricketers, he said.
“I would also like to congratulate the BCCI team for the smooth execution of the auction process. I am confident that the league will help our women cricketers shine on the global stage,” Binny added. BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla said the women’s league is truly going to set a benchmark for their cricket. “A hearty congratulations to the new owners,” he said. IPL Governing Council Chairman Arun Singh Dhumal said the league is a strong testament to the value women’s cricket can offer and with this, there will be a central pool of self-sustaining resources for Women’s cricket. “I am certain that women’s cricket will reach new heights with the commencement of the WPL,” he said.