In the ever-evolving landscape of cricket, India’s legendary fast bowler Jhulan Goswami has weighed in on the burgeoning growth of franchise cricket within the women’s circuit. Goswami, while speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s Powerplay podcast, expressed her concerns and hopes regarding the rise of franchise cricket and its impact on international fixtures. She called for a balanced approach from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to ensure that there are no scheduling clashes between international and franchise tournaments, emphasizing that both are critical for the overall development of women’s cricket.
Goswami began by acknowledging the significant progress that franchise cricket has offered women cricketers, stating, “It’s a big challenge for women’s cricket. Earlier, we saw these things happen for men’s cricket but never expected it for women’s cricket. But now that it is happening, I am happy to see it. The ICC needs to take care; franchise cricket is the future of women’s cricket. That is the growth of women’s cricket globally. You have to give priority to every franchise league; otherwise, cricket will not grow.”
The veteran bowler’s remarks are particularly poignant given recent incidents that reflect the exact conundrum she described. For instance, the Women’s Premier League (WPL) team Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) missed out on the services of Heather Knight for their second season this year. Knight, who captains the England women’s team, chose national duty over the WPL, participating in England’s tour of New Zealand instead. This absence was felt deeply by RCB, shedding light on how such fixtures can impact team compositions and rivalries on the franchise front.
Further illustrating this predicament, several notable players, including Chamari Athapaththu, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, and Deepti Sharma, missed the opening matches of the women’s Hundred because they were committed to their national teams, competing in the ACC Women’s Asia Cup. This kind of clash can deter fans and impact the quality and competitiveness of both international and franchise matches.
Reflecting on the broader impact of franchise cricket, Goswami lauded its contributions to the game. “See how many quality cricketers were produced by franchise cricket in the last few years, starting with the WBBL as well as the Hundred, WCPL, and WPL,” she highlighted. “A lot of youngsters have been provided opportunities every year, so you have to give priority to those windows.
. After that, you can have bilateral series. If bilateral series and franchise leagues clash, you will lose out on quality cricketers. And without quality cricketers, your tournament is not going to be successful.”
Goswami also emphasized that international cricket stands to benefit from the proliferation of T20 leagues globally, rather than being stunted by it. “In women’s cricket, we don’t have a lot of options. There are only a few quality cricketers in the world. If they’re occupied with bilateral series, the volume of T20 tournaments will go down. We should ensure that when premier league (franchise) tournaments are ongoing, they are given certain windows, and then bilateral series can follow. It will help the growth of women’s cricket as well. That is my personal view,” she added.
As the women’s cricket landscape continues to evolve, striking a balance between franchise and international commitments will be crucial. The rise of leagues such as the WBBL, the Hundred, WCPL, and the WPL has undeniably brought increased visibility and opportunities for many new talents. However, for the sport to flourish globally, it is imperative that the ICC and other governing bodies heed Goswami’s advice. Prioritizing franchise windows and aligning international fixtures accordingly can ensure that budding talents are not lost in the shuffle and that the quality of cricket remains high across all platforms.
Goswami’s insights underscore a pivotal moment in women’s cricket. The burgeoning popularity and competitive nature of franchise leagues offer a phenomenal opportunity for growth but must be managed judiciously to avoid any detrimental impact on international cricket. By coordinating schedules and providing clear windows for each format, the sport can ensure its continued expansion and success on all fronts.
This harmonized approach could be the key to sustaining the momentum that women’s cricket has gained in recent years, ensuring that both international and franchise cricket thrive symbiotically, much to the delight of fans and aspiring cricketers around the world.
