ECB in negotiations with BCCI over allowing Indian women for ‘The Hundred’

‘The Hundred’, the inaugural 100-ball cricket competition in United Kingdom, might see some of the top Indian women players in action if England Cricket Board (ECB) can convince the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). According to reports in ESPNcricinfo, the ECB is currently busy in negotiating with their Indian counterparts to get the likes of Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and others in action for the tournament starting in July this year.

“If all goes well Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana will play for Manchester Originals and London Spirit respectively. Jemimah Rodrigues is also likely to feature in the tournament but her team is yet to be confirmed. Apart from these three, two other India players are also in talks with the organizers for their participation in the inaugural event,” said a source close to the development has confirmed the news to Women’s CricZone on condition for anonymity.

Harmanpreet, Mandhana and Rodrigues have earlier played in England’s Kia Super League, which has now been disbanded to make way for ‘The Hundred’, which also has a separate men’s tournament. The BCCI had initially expressed its willingness to allow the women cricketers in ‘The Hundred’ when both the board officials met last December but since then there has been no concrete decision taken on the matter.    

The idea of the creation of 100-ball cricket came out in April 2018 in which there would be 15 traditional six-ball overs and a final 10-ball over. The plan drew significant opposition but was supported by England captain Joe Root. However, in February 2019, the ECB confirmed the revised playing conditions in which there would be ten 10-ball overs with bowlers delivering five or 10 consecutive balls.