Icon Players, Franchise Auctions, and Lucrative Prize Await in Inaugural Women’s Cricket Tournament
The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) has announced the much-anticipated launch of the inaugural Women’s Maharashtra Premier League (WMPL) 2024, scheduled to kick off on June 24 at Pune’s MCA Stadium in Gahunje. The league promises to be a game-changer for women’s cricket in the state, featuring a star-studded lineup of international and national cricketers alongside exciting franchise auctions and a substantial prize purse.
Renowned players from Maharashtra, including the likes of Smriti Mandhana, Devika Vaidya, Anuja Patil, Kiran Navgire, and Shraddha Pokharkar, are set to headline the tournament as icon players, adding prestige and excitement to the inaugural edition.
The franchise auction for WMPL teams will commence with a base price of ₹3 crore for a three-year term, offering aspiring team owners the opportunity to secure their preferred players and build formidable squads. The highest bidder will earn the privilege of selecting an icon player of their choice, setting the stage for intense bidding wars and strategic acquisitions.
With a whopping prize money of ₹20 lakh for the winning team and ₹10 lakh earmarked for the runners-up, the stakes are high, promising fierce competition and thrilling encounters throughout the tournament.
Rohit Pawar, Chief of the Maharashtra Cricket Association, expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming league, highlighting its pivotal role in elevating women’s cricket in the region. Pawar emphasized the league’s commitment to nurturing talent and providing a platform for female cricketers to showcase their skills on a grand stage.
In a bid to ensure widespread coverage and engagement, WMPL 2024 will be broadcast live on JioCinema and Sports18, reaching cricket enthusiasts across the nation and amplifying the visibility of women’s cricket.
As the countdown to the tournament begins, here are the key dates to mark in your calendars:
- Expression Of Interest (EOI) and Information Document available on MCA website – April 7
- Teams to send Expression Of Interest (EOI) via email – April 24
- Open auction for buying teams – April 27
- Auction for players – May 11
- Start date of league – June 24
As anticipation builds and excitement mounts, the Women’s Maharashtra Premier League 2024 promises to be a celebration of cricketing talent, camaraderie, and sportsmanship, setting new benchmarks for women’s cricket in Maharashtra and beyond.
