Sky Sports to show first season of WPL for UK audiences

Sky, who have reportedly withdrawn from IPL TV rights process, will carry the action, with the broadcaster's schedule updated to include the games on Wednesday

Sky Sports will carry live coverage of the inaugural Women's Premier League in 2023.

The five-team competition is set to get under way on Saturday, March 4 in a landmark moment for women's cricket.

Sky, who have reportedly withdrawn from IPL TV rights process, will carry the action, with the broadcaster's schedule updated to include the games on Wednesday (March 1).

Gujarat Giants face Mumbai Indians in the tournament's curtain-raiser. All 22 matches will take place in Mumbai, in two stadiums.

The overall rights for the WPL cost streaming platform Viacom18 £95million at auction earlier this year.

The first WPL auction in February saw a host of female stars win game-changing sums of money, with the likes of Nat Sciver-Brunt and Smriti Mandhana earning £300,000-plus contracts.

The Daily Mail reported on Monday (February 27) that Sky had stepped away from the men's competition, with DAZN set to carry the tournament in its entirey. According to the report, ITV will screen a limited number of matches free-to-air.