ACA launches Women’s Andhra Premier League

Vijayawada: The Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) has launched the Women’s Andhra Premier League (WAPL) with the objective of identifying talented women cricketers and providing them with a platform to progress to the national and international levels. The inaugural edition will be held from September 19 to 27 at the ACA Stadium in Mangalagiri.

ACA president and Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath (Chinni) announced the details of the league at a press conference at the ACA office in Vijayawada on Wednesday. He said the league was being organised for the first time on a franchise-based model, with four teams competing in the tournament.

He said all matches in the inaugural season would be played at the Mangalagiri ACA Stadium, with day-and-night fixtures being conducted on the lines of the men’s Andhra Premier League. Entry for spectators would be free. Sivanath said the ACA was making special arrangements to encourage young women to watch the matches. Free buses would transport students from women’s colleges and educational institutions in Vijayawada, Mangalagiri and Guntur to the stadium and drop them back at their respective institutions after the matches.

He said Nara Brahmani would attend the opening ceremony as the chief guest. Women achievers from various fields, including entrepreneurs, sportspersons, public representatives, IAS officers and judges, would be invited as chief guests on different match days to interact with and inspire young cricketers. Sivanath also said the ACA would organise a women’s bike rally from Vijayawada to Mangalagiri to create awareness about women’s cricket.

He said the league would help produce players capable of representing India and eventually earning opportunities in the Women’s IPL. The matches would be streamed live on JioHotstar. He added that the ACA planned to use stadiums in Kadapa, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and other parts of the State from the next season. Director of Cricket Operations D Kalyan Krishna and ACA CEO Jai Kishan were present.

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