Following the blockbuster success of the first Women’s Premier League (WPL), Australia, India, and England are in high-level discussions to introduce a cricket Women’s Champions League as soon as next year.
In recent weeks, talks around the Lord’s Ashes Test and the World Test Championship final at the Oval included discussions about this Cricket Women’s Champions League idea. Nick Hockley and Mike Baird, the chief executive and head of Cricket Australia were the architect as they talked about this concept with their counterparts in ‘Big Three’.
When contacted by The Age, a CA spokeswoman acknowledged that talks were ongoing but would not provide any additional information.
More discussions centered on the ICC’s annual summit in South Africa last week, where member countries approved a proposal to give the BCCI up to 38% of proceeds from the just-completed $US3 billion ($4.35 billion) sale of the rights to international events.
This is almost twice as much as the 22% India was given under the previous distribution agreement, which was approved in 2017. T20 franchise leagues received stricter regulations, including a requirement for at least seven local players in each squad.
In order to compete with the BCCI’s powerful secretary Jay Shah on the key economic issues affecting cricket, Baird, who assumed the role of CA’s new chair earlier this year, is expected to join the organization’s prominent finance and commercial affairs committee.
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Cricket Women’s Champions League
The WPL spectacle, which was able to draw a sizable crowd and substantial TV viewers thanks to the BCCI’s sale of the event’s rights to Viacom18 for $US116.5 million ($169 million) over five years, has been a key impetus for the concept of the Cricket Women’s Champions League.
It would be a considerably more momentous milestone for the sport than the conclusion of the Durban conference announcement of equal prize money for the men’s and women’s World Cups. Contrary to tennis or golf, contracts and match payments—which would increase significantly should the Champions League be a success—are the lifeblood of a cricketer’s career.
WTCL will be similar to Men’s T20 Champions League!
It would be similar to the attempt to start a men’s T20 Champions League when the IPL was introduced in 2008 if the world league were to be introduced, with broadcast rights revenue to be split among the participating nations.
After six editions, the competition—which was sold to Star Sports for around $1 billion ($1.45 billion)—was discontinued because it was unable to draw in enough spectator interest to warrant the hefty price tag. India, Australia, and South Africa split the revenue after England’s board withdrew from negotiations.
This time, cricket women’s Champions League is viewed as the obvious next step in capitalising on the strength of the WPL, WBBL, and Hundred competitions. There is no indication that the CA, BCCI, or ECB are considering relaunching a men’s Champions League.
It is possible that clubs from other leagues, such as the Caribbean Premier League, will participate in the tournament, but there is a desire to start the event small and build from there.
The locations would be rotated, with the host nation keeping match proceeds from tickets and corporate hospitality.
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