The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has decided to make its biggest investment in women's cricket by pumping three million pounds to launch a six-team super league tournament.

The tournament, which is scheduled to start next summer, will initially employ the T20 format and would go on for two weeks, the BBC reports.

However, the venues and dates have still not been decided.

Delighted with the announcement, ECB chief executive Tom Harrison said that it was a major step forward for the women's game in England.

The ECB has said that besides improving standards domestically, the move would also aim to inspire more women and girls to take part in the sport, as well as providing more revenue opportunities through broadcasting and sponsorship.

Clare Connor, ECB director of England Women's Cricket, said that the Women's Cricket Super League was 'the next stage in the evolution of women's cricket', following the introduction of central contracts last year.