Andhra Cricket Association Announces Inaugural Women’s Andhra Premier League from September 19

The Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) is set to stage the inaugural Women’s Andhra Premier League (WAPL) from 19 to 27 September 2026 at the Mangalagiri Stadium, a move designed to accelerate women’s cricket development in the state and offer young female cricketers a high-profile competitive platform. The announcement comes as India’s women’s team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, begins their title defence at the 4th Asian Games in Japan, where they will face hosts Japan in a quarter-final on 18 September at 10:30 AM IST at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin.

Four teams will contest the first edition of WAPL, with all fixtures concentrated at the Mangalagiri venue over nine days. ACA president and Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath (Chinni) described the league as more than a tournament, positioning it as a pathway for talented women players to showcase skills and access broader opportunities in the sport. He emphasised that the initiative aligns with a larger objective of women’s empowerment through structured sporting exposure and competitive cricket at the domestic level.

The league’s design reflects ACA’s intent to build a sustainable ecosystem: free spectator entry, targeted outreach to students, and plans to expand the footprint from the next season. By removing financial barriers for fans and arranging special buses to bring students from Vijayawada to Mangalagiri, the association aims to cultivate a new audience base and inspire participation at the grassroots.

The inaugural programme will see the presence of Nara Brahmani, wife of Andhra Pradesh HRD minister Nara Lokesh, underlining the tournament’s significance within the state’s sports calendar. To build momentum ahead of the first match, ACA is organising a bike rally from Vijayawada to Mangalagiri on Thursday, intended to raise awareness and generate local excitement around the WAPL brand.

Sivanath noted that the Women’s APL will not remain confined to a single venue or city in the long term. From the next season, ACA plans to host matches in Visakhapatnam and Kadapa as well, ensuring that women cricketers across Andhra Pradesh gain equal access to competitive fixtures and scouting opportunities. This phased expansion signals a strategic approach to talent identification, with the league intended to feed into higher-level selections and professional pathways.

Scheduling the WAPL between 19 and 27 September places it perfectly in the middle of the 4th edition of the Asian Games group and knockout stages (17–22 September), allowing the tournament to ride the wave of attention generated by India’s campaign in Japan. India, the defending gold medallists, beat Sri Lanka, led by Chamari Athapaththu, by 19 runs in the previous edition’s final and will look to replicate that form starting with their quarter-final against Japan. The proximity of the two events offers a compelling narrative for women’s cricket in India: international success at the Asian Games alongside structured domestic growth through leagues like WAPL.

ACA’s decision to make entry free and facilitate student transport reflects a clear priority: normalising women’s cricket as a mainstream spectator sport in Andhra Pradesh. By coupling match-day accessibility with an expansion roadmap that includes Visakhapatnam and Kadapa, the association is laying the groundwork for a multi-city women’s league that can sustain interest, improve facilities, and deepen the talent pool.

With four teams, a dedicated venue, and institutional backing from the state’s cricket leadership, the inaugural WAPL positions itself as a catalyst for the next phase of women’s cricket in Andhra Pradesh, bridging grassroots participation, competitive exposure, and long-term player development.

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Source: femalecricket.com