
Charlotte Edwards: England captain would love to play in an IPL-style league
England women’s cricket captain Charlotte Edwards says she would love to play in an IPL-style 20-over league.
Australian businessman Shaun Martyn is proposing to launch a Women’s International Cricket League, which would take place in Singapore and could be launched within the next nine months.
The tournament could see players earn as much as £23,500 for a 12-day campaign, should it receive approval from the International Cricket Council.
But Edwards is keen to focus on the benefits such a tournament would give to the sport rather than any financial assistance.
“If it was to be authorised then I’d love to play in it,” Edwards told Sky Sports News. “There are some hugely exciting things happening in the women’s game at the moment.
“Being paid to play cricket is something that I never thought would happen when I was growing up but it’s not a focus for us as a group.”
Edwards was recently given a central contract by the England and Wales cricket board as part of their ongoing investment into the women’s game.
Seventeen other players have also become full-time professionals and Edwards feels the development will prove to be ‘an incredible thing’.
“It means we’ll get more time with our coaches, we’ll prepare better and that is great for women’s cricket,” he said.
“That’s not just for us, that’s for the grass roots of the game and tells young girls that there is a career in the game.
“That’s an incredible thing and hopefully something that will raise the standards at grass roots level.”