Dedicated Diwali window for Women’s Premier League, home and away format: BCCI secretary Jay Shah

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) will have a dedicated Diwali window and the games will be played in the home and away format, BCCI secretary Jay Shah said on Friday.
“We are mulling the possibility of scheduling the WPL in a home and away format in the Diwali window. We won’t have two seasons in a year but just a different time window. Women’s cricket now has a dedicated audience base and this number will only keep growing as we expect an encouraging turnout at the next WPL,” Shah said.
The inaugural WPL comprising five teams was played in March this year before the IPL and according to Shah it was watched 50.78 million viewers.Mumbai Indians Women beat Delhi Capitals Women seven wickets in the final played at the Brabourne Stadium.
Upgrading stadiums
The BCCI has earmarked more than Rs 500 crores to upgrade stadiums across the country before the 50-over World Cup to be held later this year. “All exing infrastructure in the country will be upgraded before the World Cup. Assessment of the stadium has been done to engage with a wider cohort of fans in the IPL and during the World Cup. So upgrading infrastructure will be done during this period.”

Clean toilets, easy access and clean seating are the top priorities. The BCCI received criticism for the condition of stadiums recently.
A new international stadium will also come up in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and will be completed in the next two years, Shah added.