Indian board discusses Twenty20 for women

The success of Twenty20 cricket has prompted the Indian board to contemplate introducing the shortest version of the game in women's domestic cricket. It is likely that women will play Twenty20 matches this season, though it is yet to be fitted into the schedule. The board will also discuss organising a women's World Twenty20.

"The BCCI is trying [to see] a Twenty20 World Cup for women cricket organised either before or after the women's World Cup," Niranjan Shah, the board secretary, told PTI.

The ICC has not discussed any firm proposals for arranging such tournament on a world scale. Any such development would have to go through the ICC women's committee. The 50-over World Cup is scheduled to be played in Australia in 2009 though the venues within the country are yet to be approved by the ICC.

The first-ever Twenty20 international was played by women when New Zealand beat England by nine runs in Hove in August 2004, six months before Australia and New Zealand played the first men's international in Auckland.

The Indian women also played their first and only Twenty20 before the men's side, when they beat England by eight wickets in Derby in August 2006. Four months later the men's side played their first Twenty20 when beat they South Africa by nine runs in Johannesburg.