Franchise Cricket: The Future of Women’s Cricket
Former India fast bowler Jhulan Goswami believes that “franchise cricket is the future of women’s cricket” and that prioritizing T20 leagues over bilateral series is crucial for the sport’s growth. Goswami, the highest wicket-taker in women’s ODIs, has been the bowling coach and mentor with Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) for the last two years and is set to join the Trinbago Knight Riders coaching staff for the upcoming Women’s CPL.
Addressing the calendar clashes between franchise leagues and bilateral series, Goswami said, “It’s a big challenge for women’s cricket. Earlier we saw these things happen for men’s cricket but never expected it to happen for women’s cricket, but that’s happening. And I’m happy to see that. The ICC needs to take care, franchise cricket is the future of women’s cricket. And that’s the growth of women’s cricket globally. You have to give priority to every franchise league; otherwise, cricket will not grow.“
The club-versus-country debate has become more prominent in women’s cricket in recent years as T20 leagues continue to expand worldwide. Top players like Meg Lanning, Ashleigh Gardner, and Tahlia McGrath have had to prioritize their commitments, leading to conflicts with bilateral tours.
Goswami emphasized the importance of giving priority to franchise leagues, stating, “See how many quality cricketers were produced by franchise cricket in the last few years, starting with WBBL as well as the Hundred, WCPL, WPL. A lot of youngsters they’ve provided every year, so you have to give priority to those windows, and after that, you have to have bilateral series. If you have your bilateral series and franchise leagues clashing, then you will lose out on quality cricketers. And if you don’t have quality cricketers, then your tournament is not going to be successful.“
The busy calendar for the remainder of 2024 further highlights the challenges facing women’s cricket. After the women’s Hundred in August, the three-team WCPL will be played in the Caribbean, followed by the T20 World Cup in October and the WBBL from October to December. This period coincides with the home seasons for several international teams, adding to the scheduling conflicts.
Goswami’s perspective underscores the growing significance of franchise cricket in the women’s game and the need for governing bodies to strike a balance between these leagues and bilateral series to ensure the continued growth and development of the sport.
🔗 Source