WPL will help India produce more prepared players, cross the final hurdles in ICC events: Zaheer Khan

Former Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan believes Women’s Premier League will help India produce more prepared players and also help the team cross the final stages in the major ICC events. Women Premier League will definitely give more exposure to the domestic players and they are to expected to grow in confidence by rubbing shoulders after playing with the best players in the world.

Meanwhile, India hasn’t been able to cross the final hurdles in the big ICC events in the last few years. India lost the 2017 50-overs World Cup final against England, the final of 2020 T20 World Cup final against Australia, the CWG Final against Australia in 2022 and recently lost to Australia in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup despite being in a shoo-in position at one stage.

WPL kickstarted on Saturday with Mumbai Indians Women taking on Gujarat Giants after a glittering ceremony at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai. It was a one-sided match as MIW won by a gargantuan margin of 143 runs after their skipper Harmanpreet Kaur scored 65 runs from 30 balls whereas Saika Ishaque scalped four wickets.

“Exposure to some of the best players is something which will in turn translate into producing, even more, better-prepared players for international cricket. That’s the exciting part and the results of that will definitely be seen in a couple of years at the international level for sure,” Zaheer Khan told Sports 18.

“The Indian women’s team have been consistent at the international level, it’s just the last leg that they have not been able to cross in a tournament like the World Cup. You will be able to cross that bridge for sure, I think. You crossed it with the U19 women, winning that World Cup trophy. With the senior team also, you will see and it will be a lot to do with a tournament like this, a lot to do with the infrastructure and the knowledge that they will be receiving through a tournament like this,” he added.

Former Indian pacer feels the BCCI will have to find ways to sustaining the league and give more exposure to girls all across the country.

“This needs to continue. This is like 2-3 weeks in a year, we are talking right now. We have to set those building blocks as well to sustain it round the year, to have that process being filtered down to the academies where more and more girls can take up cricket. It’s just the administrative part, which I am sure the BCCI will take. The results of that will happen in the times to come,” Zaheer added.

Royal Challengers Bangalore Women will face Delhi Capitals Women in the second game of WPL 2023 on Sunday.