Punjab Kings (PBKS) co-owner Ness Wadia has expressed interest in buying a team in the BCCI proposed six-team Women's IPL, which is expected to begin from 2023 onwards.
At an Indian Premier League Governing Council (IPL GC) meeting last week, BCCI proposed a six-team Women's IPL from 2023, with the existing 10 men’s IPL franchises getting first preference to be part of the competition, and Wadia has already thrown his hat in the ring.
On Monday, March 28, Wadia said that PBKS would be more than interested if they were offered to own a team in the Women's IPL while expressing pain over India’s exit from the Women’s World Cup in 2022.
Ness Wadia told PTI: “We would be more than interested in that (Women's IPL). IPL for women is long overdue and it would be very special when it happens. Women's cricket has really developed over the years. The World Cup is going on right now and there is so much interest in the women's game. It was heartbreaking to see our team lose yesterday.”
On being asked about the base price for owning a women's team, the PBKS co-owner said: “That is for the BCCI to decide but I can tell you if we are asked to own a team we would be more than interested. I feel the league would be sustainable as well.”
Meanwhile, after adding two new teams to the IPL, the BCCI is expecting a windfall with the IPL media rights up for grabs. Notably, Star paid approximately Rs 16,000 crore for the 2018–2022 cycle, and BCCI could fetch up to Rs 40,000 crore for the next five-year cycle.
Wadia said, “I would be surprised if it doesn't double at least. Upwards of 35000 crores for sure.”
Before the IPL 2022 season opener between CSK and KKR on March 26 in Mumbai, the Indian national anthem was played before the start of the match, and it was the idea of PBKS.
He concluded, “We discussed it with Jay Shah and Sourav Ganguly and they were more than happy to go ahead with it. The national anthem is played in sporting leagues in the USA. I am a diehard patriot and was overjoyed when it (National Anthem) was played. It is the Indian Premier League after all.”
(With PTI Inputs)
