The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has informed the five Women’s Premier League (WPL) franchises that the Season 5 auction will be held on October 28 in Kochi. The franchises were formally notified of the auction date on Wednesday (September 16).
The five teams have until September 28 to finalise their retention and release lists ahead of the auction. Each squad can have a maximum of 18 players, including up to six overseas players. The salary cap for the current cycle has been set at INR 15 crore.
Meanwhile, the BCCI is understood to have identified Mumbai and Vadodara as the venues for the upcoming season, which is expected to be played in January-February, following last year’s schedule.
There have been suggestions of hosting some matches in Varanasi, where a new stadium is currently being constructed. However, the possibility remains remote at this stage.
Sources close to the WPL said any decision on hosting matches in Varanasi will depend on the readiness of the new stadium. The venue would first need to be tested by hosting domestic matches before it can be considered for WPL fixtures. At present, staging league matches there is unlikely.
The Cricket Club of India (CCI) in Mumbai and Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara have been identified as the definitive venues for the season. Both venues hosted matches during Season 4, with the final played in Vadodara on February 5.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the defending champions, having won the previous edition of the WPL.
