The Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) has announced the Women’s Andhra Premier League, a new competition aimed at giving women cricketers in Andhra Pradesh more opportunities and exposure. ACA president and Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath, popularly known as Chinni, made the announcement on Saturday. The league will be conducted under the guidance of captain Mithali Raj. It will be played from September 15 to 26 at the Mangalagiri ground, with day-night matches across the state.
The first edition will have four franchise teams, with all four selected through an auction. The base price for each franchise was fixed at Rs 35 lakh. Ushodaya Enterprises emerged as the highest bidder and acquired a team for Rs 89 lakh. The other three franchises were bought for Rs 88.50 lakh, Rs 77.77 lakh and Rs 61.11 lakh respectively. The auction has brought a new franchise structure to women’s cricket in Andhra Pradesh and could help attract more interest in the coming seasons.
Chinni said the league is being planned to give women cricketers a better platform to play competitive cricket and gain useful exposure. School students will be allowed free entry to the matches, which could encourage more young fans to watch women’s cricket. The ACA plans to expand the four-team league in the future. A dedicated cricket academy will also soon be established at Moolapadu, adding another development opportunity for young players in the state at grassroots level.
Mithali Raj will play an important role because the league will be held under her guidance. The former India captain said the competition could help identify talented cricketers from rural areas and give them professional-level exposure. She also said the auction model could increase the commercial value of women’s cricket. Her experience at the highest level can help young players understand competitive cricket better and make good use of the opportunities they receive during the first edition.
The new league can give players from Andhra Pradesh more chances to perform in a competitive environment and put their skills on display. Young cricketers who may not get regular opportunities at a higher level can use the tournament to gain match experience and confidence. Playing day-night matches will also give them exposure to a different match setting. The ACA hopes the competition will create a stronger pathway for women players and support their progress before bigger opportunities arrive.
The franchise model could bring greater interest from supporters and businesses. The four-team competition will give each franchise an opportunity to build a connection with players and local fans. Free entry for school students is another step that could introduce younger audiences to women’s cricket. If the league grows as planned, more teams could follow in future editions, giving more cricketers an opportunity to compete and gain valuable experience across the state.
The planned academy at Moolapadu is another important part of the ACA’s wider plan for women’s cricket. A dedicated facility could help young players train regularly and improve their skills over a longer period. Combined with the new league, it could provide a useful link between player development and competitive cricket. The Women’s Andhra Premier League will be an important new step for the state and could help find, develop and support talented women cricketers in the years ahead for everyone.
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