India’s batting powerhouse Shafali Verma will be making her debut in the upcoming edition of Women’s Big Bash League as her deal with Sydney Sixers has been finalised. The left-arm spinner Radha Yadav is also in talks with one of the Sydney-based franchises.
“Shafali’s deal is done, it will be announced when the Women’s Big Bash schedule is released. Radha is also in talks with the Sydney Sixers,” a BCCI source told PTI.
17-year old Verma’s father was required to sign the consent form for Shafali as she’s still a minor. He confirmed the news of Shafali’s deal being finalised while also thanking the BCCI and Haryana Cricket Association.
“Yes, Shafali has signed the contract with Sydney Sixers, and given she is a minor, I have had to give my consent, too. I would like to thank the BCCI and Haryana Cricket Association [HCA] for giving my daughter the permission and support to play in the WBBL. Without the guidance of the HCA, whatever Shafali is doing in her career wouldn’t have been possible.” Shafali Verma’s father, Sanjeev, told ESPNcricinfo.
According to ESPNcricinfo, a senior BCCI official has stated that the WBBL could see the largest ever Indian contingent this season.
“All players who have been or will be approached by Big Bash teams will be given all necessary permissions to participate in the WBBL this season,” the official said on the condition of anonymity.
The world number one ranked T20I batter is also set to make her appearance in the inaugural edition of the Hundred, a 100-ball tournament by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The batting sensation replaced Sophie Devine at Birmingham Phoenix. Shafali will have the company of her India teammates Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma and Jemimah Rodrigues at the Hundred.
The Hundred, which was postponed last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is scheduled to get underway this year on July 21. The Hundred will be Verma’s first overseas competition where she will rub shoulders with the likes of Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner.
The trio will team up once again at Sydney Sixers in the WBBL where Perry and Gardner have been an integral part of the set-up. The fans will also get an opportunity to witness two of the most destructive batters in world cricket, Verma and Alyssa Healy, pair up for the Sixers.
Previously, only three Indian players have featured in the WBBL. India’s T20I skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana made their debuts in the 2016-17 edition for Sydney Thunder and Brisbane Heat, respectively. Kaur played for Thunder in three consecutive seasons, while Mandhana’s second stint in the league was with Hobart Hurricanes in 2018-19. Veda Krishnamurthy was the third Indian to appear in WBBL when she played for Hurricanes in 2017-18.
The WBBL didn’t feature any Indian players in the 2019-20 edition as the players were focused on preparing for the 2020 T20 World Cup in Australia with matches against South Africa and West Indies in the same timeframe as the WBBL. In 2020, the clash in scheduling with the Women’s T20 Challenge – a three-team competition organised by the BCCI, resulted in India’s top players missing out on the WBBL.
This year’s WBBL is likely to be held during its usual window of October-November, and the overseas players will be required to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine period upon arriving in Australia.
