Healy, Bates unhappy over proposed T20 Challenge in November

An expanded four-team Women's T20 Challenge happening alongside the IPL's playoffs stage might have come as welcome news for the Indian women cricketers but star players from other countries haven't responded too well to the development. The reason for their disappointment is that the Women's T20 Challenge will clash with the Women's Big Bash League which is scheduled from 17 October to 29 November.

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said on Sunday (August 2) that "the women's IPL is very much on". The four-team tournament is likely to be held from November 1-10, which means that the Indian players won't be available to play in the WBBL while the overseas players might be divided over which league to play in.

"So during the WBBL.... cool," Alyssa Healy, Australia's wicketkeeper batter, said sarcastically in a tweet. "So the Indian players who've already signed WBBL contracts will do what? And all the international marquee players that will be in Australia for WBBL? Good luck with it.

Hamranpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemima Rodrigues and Shafali Verma may have been among the candidates who could have been WBBL bound. But the latest news surrounding the Women's T20 Challenge will deny them the chance of featuring in Australia's premier women's tournament.

"The IPL doesn't need the marquee players. It's already large. The women's format however does. The WBBL and BBL don't run simultaneously so why does the IPL and WIPL have to?" questioned Healy.

"If true, it's a shame," said Rachael Haynes in a tweet. "While the game continues to grow, premier domestic competitions do not need to compete against each other. They can be used to showcase the game and support its development around the world."

New Zealand cricketer Suzie Bates too made her displeasure felt, as she tweeted: "What a huge shame for both the WBBL and WIPL competitions there is a clash." England's Charlotte Edwards, meanwhile, stressed on the importance of having a window for all the women's tournaments. "Needs to be a window for Women's IPL, WBBL and The Hundred. All play a massive part in raising the standards and growing the game."

Jhulan Goswami, the Indian pacer, came out in support of the T20 Challenge. "I think as an Indian player and looking at the Indian women's game, the BCCI doing this is hugely welcome. We need this for every woman who plays the game in India. These are tough times. And unless our board supports us the game will suffer."

Article source: https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/113672/alyssa-healy-suzie-bates-unhappy-womens-t20-challenge-november