The Women’s version of the Caribbean Premier League T/20 Tournament could be on the calendar in the near future.
The indication has come from chief operating officer Pete Russell who says it is not a matter of if, but when.
Russell was responding to questions raised by West Indies batsman Britney cooper after her team was knocked out in the semi-finals of the t20 world cup, when she claimed they could have done better if they could also play as many matches a year as some of the more fancied teams like Australia, England and India.
Currently the CPL only has the rights to host the men’s tournament and to organised a women’s version, a separate license needs to be procured by cricket West Indies.
West Indies women already have two domestic T/20 tournaments in place – the CWI Regional Women’s Twenty20 championship, and a franchise league in Trinidad and Tobago, called the courts T/20 women’s grand slam tournament.
It is also understood that the CPL had invited West Indies women to play an exhibition T/20 ahead of the men’s eliminator in September.
However, there were logistical issues considering they were playing a bilateral series against South Africa at the time.
It is for the same reason a mini women’s CPL, alongside the men’s edition, is unlikely, at least in 2019, as West Indies women will be involved in a bilateral series with Australia in August-September.
Reports are that cricket West indies wants a standalone women’s T/20 tournament along the lines of big bash league, which has proven to be a success in Australia.