Harmanpreet Kaur Signs For Sydney Thunder in Woman's Big Bash League
Harmanpreet Kaur, who was reportedly in talks with the Sydney Thunder franchise, has become the first Indian woman to play an overseas Twenty20 league after the club confirmed that they had signed her for the 2016/17 season
Highlights
-
Harmanpreet Kaur will become first Indian to play for foreign T20 league
-
Harmanpreet had offers from three WBBL franchise teams
-
Sydney Thunder are the current champions of the WBBL
Harmanpreet Kaur has become the first Indian women's cricketer to be recruited by a foreign Twenty20 league as Sydney Thunder have confirmed her signing as the second international cap for the 2016/17 edition of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL).
In a statement released by the Sydney Thunder, the franchise said that the Indian vice-captain was on top of their target and were pleased that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) agreed to release her for the tournament.
According to the rules of the Women's Big Bash League, a cap of two international players are allowed in the playing XI. West Indies all-rounder Stafanie Taylor is the other international recruit in the Sydney Thunder side.
In June 2016, BCCI president Anurag Thakur had hinted that Kaur was set to become India's first woman cricketer to play in an overseas T20 league.
The all-rounder, herself, too claimed that she had offer from three teams but went ahead with Sydney Thunder.
"I had offers from three teams. Then I went through their performances, compositions and everything else. I picked Sydney Thunder because firstly they are the champions and secondly there is only one overseas player in their team -Stefanie Taylor from West Indies. The rest are players from their domestic circuit," Kaur had stated.
Sydney Thunder were the champions of the inaugural edition of the Women's Big Bash League in 2015/16. In the same year, the men's team also won their maiden Big Bash League title