The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has identified a window for the third season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), which will run for a month, from early February to March.
According to Cricpulse, the tournament is scheduled to be held from February 6 to March 9, 2025.
While the exact dates are yet to be finalized, franchises were informed by BCCI officials during the recent WPL auction in Bengaluru that the tournament is likely to begin on Thursday, February 6.
As with the previous two seasons, the third season will feature 22 matches.
Although the BCCI had initially planned to introduce a new team in Season 3, that plan has been put on hold.
Royal Challengers Bangalore will start the season as defending champions.
Regarding the venue, the BCCI has yet to finalize the location, but it is expected to be between Lucknow and Ahmedabad.
The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has not been approached to host matches in Mumbai, home of the Mumbai Indians WPL team, and Bengaluru, home to Royal Challengers Bangalore, is also not under consideration, according to a senior Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) official.
Delhi, home to the Delhi Capitals, is also unlikely due to the cold weather at that time.
This leaves Lucknow, the base of UP Warriorz, and Ahmedabad, home to Gujarat Giants, as the main contenders.
Some franchises have reportedly requested the BCCI to host the games in Ahmedabad.
However, the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) is unsure whether the Narendra Modi Stadium will be available for the entire month.
A final decision is expected soon.
If the final takes place between March 7 and 9, there will be a gap of nearly a week between the end of the WPL and the start of the IPL.
The BCCI has already announced that IPL Season 18 will commence on March 14 (Friday).
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