Cricket's top women's players "could feature in an Indian Premier League-style tournament within nine months," according to Alison Mitchell of the BBC. Australian businessman Shaun Martyn "is proposing to launch a Women's International Cricket League." It "has yet to be sanctioned by the International Cricket Council," but could see players earn £23,500 ($38,000) in 12 days. However, organizers said that they have met ICC CEO Dave Richardson in Dubai "to discuss the proposal." Martyn said, "In principle, he is very supportive of what we're doing." The proposed tournament "would bring together the best female players in the world, to play with and against each other in six company-owned teams, over a 12-day event to be held in Singapore." Martyn, who is in partnership with former Australia World Cup winner Lisa Sthalekar, said that they "have already found businesses willing to back the venture." Martyn: "We're in final negotiations with three companies and we've been approached in the last week by one cricket association to purchase a franchise. It's really about finding appropriate dates" (BBC, 5/27).
