ACA Launches Inaugural Women’s Andhra Premier League

The Women's Andhra Premier League (WAPL), a franchise-based competition similar to the men's Andhra Premier League (APL), is being launched by the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA). It begins on September 19 and runs through September 27. Mangalagiri will host all matches throughout the day and into the night.

The WPL has remained at five teams because the BCCI was unsure whether there were enough players. A league with three teams for women was held by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). The ACA has claimed that the state has sufficient female players and has ambitiously launched a four-team league.

It was informed by ACA president Kesineni Sivanath, "Yes, we have the player pool." “A lot of players have expressed interest since the Women's World Cup was held in Andhra. Because we have a pool of players, we have four teams. Hopefully, by next year, we will have six teams.” The Board of Control for Indian Cricket (BCCI) has granted permission to the association.

In the past two years, matches for the women's league have been held by the association. This time, it has made that into a league based on franchises. We want to promote women's empowerment through the Andhra Women's Premier League. Sivanath, a Lok Sabha member, stated, "We want to start the Women's Premier League equally like the men's Premier League."

We are confident that, like the men's league, the women's league will gain popularity as well. We wish to inspire them. We've started the Women's Andhra Premier League in a way that allows more state players like Shree Charani to play. Shree Charani is a well-known left-arm spinner from the state who competes for India at the moment.

The ACA conducted education campaigns prior to the league's launch. From Vijayawada to Mangalagiri, a 100-woman all-women bike ride was organized. Mithali Raj, a legend and former Indian cricketer, is the force behind the league and association.

The president of the ACA is certain that the league will have a record attendance, just like the men's league did. Sivanath stated, "We are confident the same kind of turnout will be there for the women's matches as well." "We used to get 15,000 to 20,000 people for all the men's matches."