Australia women’s cricketer Alyssa Healy took to Twitter to express her displeasure at BCCI’s decision to hold the Women’s T20 Challenge in early November, given the rescheduled date directly clashes with the 2020/21 WBBL.

On August 2, the BCCI confirmed that a three-team Women’s T20 Challenge will be held during the playoffs stage of IPL 2020, similar to the model followed last year. The 2019 competition consisted of four games, with international players flying in to participate in the tournament that was held from 6-11 May in Jaipur.

The competition will directly coincide with the Women’s BBL, which is set to be held from October 18 to December 8. With the WT20 Challenge expected to be held in the last week of the men’s IPL, from November 3 to November 10, there’s a big question mark on the availability of Indian players in the WBBL as well as the availability of international stars for the T20 Challenge.

Healy, the Australia wicketkeeper-batter, took to Twitter to express her unhappiness at the announcement and was joined by teammates Jess Jonassen, Rachael Haynes, and New Zealand’s Suzie Bates.

Reacting to journalist Boria Majumdar’s tweet, which initially announced the schedule, Healy said, “So during the WBBL… cool”, before engaging in a long debate with Majumdar, where she questioned the scheduling clash, pointing out that, unlike the IPL, there are separate windows for the BBL and WBBL.

So during the WBBL…. cool https://t.co/w5aNhN9FTw

— Alyssa Healy (@ahealy77) August 2, 2020

What a huge shame for both the WBBL and WIPL competitions there is a clash.

— Suzie Bates (@SuzieWBates) August 2, 2020

I have no words for this..

— Jessica Jonassen (@JJonassen21) August 2, 2020

Agree. If true, it’s a shame… while the game continues to grow, premier domestic competitions do not need to compete against each other. They can be used to showcase the game and support its development around the world.

— Rachael Haynes (@RachaelHaynes) August 2, 2020

“Our tournament is set and prepared,” Healy wrote. “There won’t be any understanding. Fairly sure players will abide by their contractual agreements in Aus. Especially considering it’ll be leading into finals.

“The IPL doesn’t need the marquee players. It’s already large. The women’s format however does. The WBBL and BBL don’t run simultaneously so why does the IPL and WIPL have to?”

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

However, not everyone was displeased with the update. With the Women’s World Cup set begin in March next year, Majumdar reported that the BCCI would also green light two white-ball series against West Indies and South Africa towards the end of the year.

Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami and Poonam Yadav were among those to laud the BCCI’s decision to focus on women’s cricket ahead of the World Cup.

This is excellent news . Our ODI World Cup campaign to finally kick start . A big thank you to @SGanguly99 @BCCI @JayShah and thank you @BoriaMajumdar for your support to women’s cricket . https://t.co/JpJSMGapzV

— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) August 2, 2020

Glad to know that @BCCI & Dada have taken such important decisions for the development & upliftment of women's cricket. Can't wait to get back on the field. 👍🏼 @SGanguly99 @BCCIWomen @mandhana_smriti @ImHarmanpreet @M_Raj03 @IPL

Special thanks to @BoriaMajumdar da from my side. https://t.co/a3DjEZrzZt

— Jhulan Goswami (@JhulanG10) August 2, 2020

Good news! Thank you @SGanguly99 and the BCCI. https://t.co/WWkpydctII

— Poonam Yadav (@poonam_yadav24) August 2, 2020