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Legendary Indian cricketer Jhulan Goswami has voiced her strong support for the growing importance of franchise cricket in shaping the future of women’s cricket globally. Goswami highlighted how franchise leagues, once considered an exclusive aspect of men’s cricket, are now becoming a pivotal force in the women’s game.
She emphasized that the rise of franchise leagues is a major challenge and opportunity for women’s cricket, signaling a turning point in its growth and popularity. Goswami expressed her excitement at how franchise cricket is contributing to the global expansion of the women’s game, something that was previously unimaginable.
“Earlier we saw these things happen for men’s cricket but never expected it to happen for women’s cricket, but that’s happening (on calendar clashes). And I’m happy to see that,” said Goswami while speaking to ESPNcricinfo.
The vital role of franchise leagues in producing quality cricketers
Goswami further stressed the significant role that franchise leagues have played in nurturing and producing top-quality cricketers in recent years. She cited successful examples like the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), The Hundred Women, Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL), and Women’s Premier League (WPL) as platforms that have consistently provided opportunities for emerging players. These leagues, according to Goswami, have been instrumental in the development of young talent and have contributed to the overall growth of women’s cricket.
“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,” added Goswami.
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Balancing franchise cricket with bilateral series
One of the key points Goswami highlighted is the need for better coordination between franchise cricket and bilateral series. She warned that if these two formats of the game clash, it could lead to a loss of quality cricketers for both. In women’s cricket, where the pool of top-level players is still relatively small compared to men’s cricket, this could have a detrimental impact on the quality of competition. She advocated for designated windows for franchise leagues to ensure that players can participate in both formats without any overlap
“In women’s cricket, we don’t have a lot of options, a few quality cricketers we have in the world. If they’re occupied in bilateral series, then the volume of the [T20] tournaments is going to go down. We should make sure that when the premier league (franchise) tournaments are going on, give them certain windows and after that you have the bilateral series. It will help women’s cricket’s growth also,” the veteran cricketer added further.
The future of women’s cricket: Strategic planning is key
Goswami’s statements reflect a forward-thinking approach to the future of women’s cricket. Her call for prioritizing franchise leagues, while also ensuring a balanced schedule with bilateral series, is crucial for the sustainable growth of the game. As more countries and leagues invest in women’s cricket, the sport is poised to enter a new era of popularity and competitiveness.
The rise of franchise leagues has already shown that it can bring more visibility, financial support, and opportunities for female cricketers. However, as Goswami rightly pointed out, careful planning and coordination between international boards and leagues will be essential in managing this growth effectively. The future of women’s cricket depends on how well the sport can balance the demands of franchise cricket with the traditional international calendar.
