Amid WPL buzz, Harmanpreet Kaur urges India to focus on World Cup

International skippers too said the inaugural Indian T20 league will be a game-changer while asking teammates not to be distracted

The inaugural Women’s T20 Premier League (WPL) is garnering attention from all corners of the world ahead of its launch in March much like IPL did when it was launched with fanfare in 2008.

Harmanpreet Kaur( in blue jersey) (Twitter)

While the five franchises are finalising their coaching and support staff ahead of the February 13 player auction in Mumbai, Cape Town is abuzz as it builds up to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup starting on Friday. As the 10 skippers addressed the media on Saturday, WPL was the main talking point.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has been vocal seeking a T20 league in India for women. But she cautioned her teammates not to be distracted as India bid to win their first ICC trophy.

“Before the auction, we have a very important game and we are just going to focus on that,” she said, referring to the February 12 opening game against Pakistan.

“The World Cup is more important than anything else. Our focus is on the ICC trophy. These things will keep coming, and as a player you know what is important and how you need to keep your focus. We are all mature enough and know what is important for us.

“The auction day will be a big day for all of us because we have been waiting for years and years. The next two or three months are very important for women’s cricket. We have seen how the WBBL and The Hundred have helped their countries improve their cricket. Hopefully, the same will happen for our country,” said Kaur, who has played in the Women’s Big Bash League, Kia League as well as The Hundred.

India were runners-up in the 2020 T20 World Cup, losing to hosts Australia in the final. India will play Australia and Bangladesh in warm-up matches on February 6 and 8 respectively before the mega event.

Kaur, 32, was delighted that India’s young cricketers would get a chance to share the dressing room with international stars. “That is something which has a very different feeling. When I got that opportunity, it was the biggest life-changing moment. Other girls will also experience this. It will be a great opportunity to improve cricket and grow the game.”

Foreign players too must retain focus as the auction would likely fetch them a handsome sum. “It’s the elephant in the room,” New Zealand captain Sophie Divine said at the World Cup captains’ presser.

“It is a really unique experience. It is enormous. You talk about glass ceilings and I think WPL is going to be the next stage. I am really excited about it. As female cricketers, this is something we have never been through before. On every scale, it’s going to be awkward. That’s the word we have spoken about,” Devine said.

“Some people are going to get picked up; some people won’t,” she said. “You are going to get a value attached to what you are worth which, as human beings, is not the nicest thing, to be perfectly honest. But it’s also a job and it is what we have put our names in for.”

Australia face New Zealand on February 11. Aussie captain Meg Lanning said: “I am really excited about it and I know the girls are as well. We are focusing on what we are trying to do here (World Cup), which is the most important thing. There is no right or wrong way to go about it. Everyone will deal with it as they wish,” said Lanning.

England captain Heather Knight said: “It is an exciting time in women's cricket and things are changing very fast. There are lots of franchise competitions popping up and it is going to create a really interesting dynamic. The women's IPL is going to be a game-changer. The money that’s going to come in, and the perception of the women’s game around the world as well (will change).”