Women's Andhra Premier League opens in Mangalagiri, four teams to play 13 matches in seven days

The inaugural edition of the Women's Andhra Premier League (WAPL), a T20 cricket tournament organised by the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA), got under way at the ACA International Stadium in Mangalagiri on Saturday.

The ACA has said the tournament is intended to identify and nurture talented young women cricketers. Thirteen matches will be played over seven days, all at the Mangalagiri venue.

Four teams are competing: Rayalaseema Gen Stars, Godavari Golden Eagles, Amaravati E-Champions and Vizag Fire Birds.

Nara Brahmani, Executive Director of Heritage Foods, attended the opening ceremony as chief guest and formally inaugurated the tournament. She and Mithali Raj, the former India women's team captain who is the WAPL brand ambassador, unveiled the tournament trophy.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Brahmani described the tournament as an excellent platform for women cricketers to showcase their talent and prove their mettle. She said the participating players would serve as role models for future generations.

Mithali Raj's involvement as brand ambassador brings considerable experience to the league. She captained India in Tests, One Day Internationals and T20 Internationals, and retired in 2022 as the leading run-scorer in women's international cricket. Her presence at the opening ceremony, alongside the unveiling of the trophy, gave the competition a high-profile start.

On the field, Rayalaseema Gen Stars won the opening match of the day, chasing down a target of 117 runs set by Godavari Golden Eagles. The second fixture, between Amaravati E-Champions and Vizag Fire Birds, was scheduled for Saturday evening at the same venue.

ACA president Kesineni Sivanath, ACA secretary Sana Satish Babu, Andhra Premier League Governing Council chairman Sujay Krishna Ranga Rao and other officials were present at the opening day's proceedings.

The tournament reflects a wider expansion of opportunities for women in Indian cricket in recent years. The Board of Control for Cricket in India launched a national franchise league for women in 2023, and state-level competitions such as the WAPL are aimed at giving domestic players more matches in a competitive setting. For a young cricketer, such tournaments can mean the difference between being noticed by selectors and remaining on the margins of the domestic game.

The format is short and intense: a week of daily cricket, with four squads competing for a single trophy. That compact schedule also means players must adapt quickly to conditions at the Mangalagiri ground, where the pitch and outfield will host every match of the season.

The ACA has not announced further details of the schedule beyond the seven-day window, and the results of the remaining fixtures will be available as the tournament progresses.