Indian players, led by teen sensation Shafali Verma have emerged as the hottest international property for the Women’s Big Bash League, despite the fact that they will be in Australia before the tournament begins on October 14. On Thursday, the tournament schedule was released.
We've got more games on TV than ever before and we're returning to some of our favourite venues across Australia 🤩
Here's your #WBBL07 fixture! pic.twitter.com/yFeL68dtqN
— Weber Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) July 8, 2021
In September and October, India will play three One-Day Internationals (ODIs), a pink ball Test, and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) against Australia. It will be much easier for the teams to sign them because they will have already completed their 14-day quarantine upon arrival in Australia.
The Sydney Sixers are close to sealing a deal with Shafali and left-arm spinner Radha Yadav. Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Poonam Yadav, according to cricket.com.au, could also be in demand for their talents in the WBBL.
On Thursday, According to PTI, Sydney Sixers list manager and former Australia captain Lisa Sthalekar told reporters, “(Shafali Verma) is on everyone’s list, no doubt.”
“She thrives in Australian conditions, as evidenced by her performance in the T20 World Cup. Each club will have certain openings, and (there may be) an Indian player who is a good fit for that position… They’re probably picking up the phone and dialing those numbers.”
Another reason for the high demand for Indians is that England’s tour of Pakistan coincides with the WBBL.
Amid the pandemic, Cricket Australia’s Big Bash head Alistair Dobson expressed confidence in obtaining the services of international players.
