Women's CPL to be hosted alongside men's tournament in 2022

A full-fledged women's Caribbean Premier League (CPL) tournament will take place alongside the men's event in 2022, tournament organisers said on Monday.

The three-team inaugural women's CPL be held during the CPL tournament window from Aug. 30 to Sept. 30, and will feature top women's cricketers from the Caribbean, as well as overseas players.

The men's CPL will take place across multiple countries, with three venues to host the league stage of the tournament while a fourth will host the finals. Organisers did not provide details about the format or location of the women's tournament.

"Increasing the opportunities for West Indian women and girls to get involved in cricket is one of CWI's strategic priorities," Cricket West Indies (CWI) President Ricky Skerritt said in a statement.

"We are confident that all CPL women's games will be highly competitive and will add quality entertainment to our fans in the region and around the world."

CWI, which previously hosted two 10-over matches for women's cricketers in 2019, has followed in the footsteps of Australia, New Zealand and England's cricket boards by launching the women's Twenty20 tournament.

Australia hosts the Women's Big Bash League as its domestic T20 league, while New Zealand has the Women's Super Smash. England held the inaugural 'The Hundred' tournament for women alongside the men's competition last year.

The only women's cricket competition currently in Asia is the franchise-style Women's T20 Challenge that the Indian cricket board (BCCI) has held alongside the men's Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs.

Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Jay Shah has suggested that a women's IPL could begin as early as next year, while Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman