'So dumb': Aussie women fume in clash with Indian cricket
Australians are set to miss out on the women's Indian Premier League exhibition series yet again, with Alyssa Healy describing a needless schedule clash with the WBBL as "sad".
Healy and other teammates were shocked to read a report on Sunday night that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was looking at a window of November 1-10.
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The expectation is the four All-Star matches will be staged alongside the men's IPL finals in the UAE.
But the proposed games will also overlap with the world's premier women's domestic Twenty20 competition in Australia, which is currently listed to run October 17 until November 29.
"Our tournament is set and prepared," Healy noted in a Twitter exchange with Indian sports journalist Boria Majumdar.
"There won't be any understanding. Fairly sure players will abide by their contractual agreements in Aus.
"My rs ationale is coming from a current player in this environment who's sad that we even have to be having this argument ... sooooo dumb."
Healy’s Twitter beef also managed to grab the attention of another Indian journalist Parth Salva - who slammed the Aussie star for being “selfish”.
Classic from Alyssa.. as usual selfish.. and so much importance for WBBL and doesn't respect any other countries tournaments.. do read the thread!!
Good one @BoriaMajumdar sir.. https://t.co/vq8v4xfK1b— Parth Savla (@pyarasaparth) August 2, 2020
Selfish?! If you actually read the thread it’s about players - including the Indian players with WBBL contracts who’ve been wanting to play it...... also includes every other international player who’d love to support the Women’s IPL but can’t because they’re contracted to WBBL https://t.co/kMSCZLpjQP
— Alyssa Healy (@ahealy77) August 2, 2020
Instead of twitter let’s do a debate on any platform @ahealy77 If you keen. I am game if you are. Be civil. Use of words like dumb for either @BCCI @SGanguly99 or me is perhaps not needed. With an Oxford PHD on cricket I can use many more such words but that’s not the point.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) August 3, 2020
I’m sure I could drop a few cricketing degrees on Twitter as well. I’m comfortable I’ve had my say, it’s no longer my debate. That’s for the powers at be now! Next time pick up the phone and ring me and we can have the discussion. You can razzle dazzle me with your fancy words...
— Alyssa Healy (@ahealy77) August 3, 2020
This will be the third edition of the women's T20 Challenge, with players around the world hoping it encourages the BCCI to launch a fully-fledged WIPL.
The previous two events were also held alongside the IPL finals.
"The WBBL and BBL don't run simultaneously," Healy posted on Twitter.
"So why does the IPL and WIPL have to?
"How sad that would be for our game.
Players angry over scheduling clashes
"Considering how fantastic the WBBL is for the internationals who play in it (and for us). Would be a sad move for our sport."
Cricket Australia has already drawn up biosecurity plans for this year's WBBL, expressing confidence that international stars will be able to take part.
Australia vice-captain Rachael Haynes tweeted that "while the game continues to grow, premier domestic competitions do not need to compete against each other" while teammate Jessica Jonassen posted "I have no words for this".
Former New Zealand skipper Suzie Bates agreed it would be a "huge shame" for both the WBBL and women's IPL to clash.
The 2020 clash comes after Healy, Ellyse Perry and Meg Lanning were blocked from taking part in the 2019 women's T20 Challenge because of a bust-up between the BCCI and CA.
The star trio agreed to play in last year's Indian event but never hopped on a plane, with CA pointing to a "communication breakdown" amid stalled negotiations between the two boards over the timing of a men's ODI series.
with Yahoo Sport staff