No Big Bash League For Harmanpreet, Mandhana Or Jemimah Rodrigues

T20 captain Harmanpreet Kaur, ace batswoman Smriti Mandhana and the sensational Jemimah Rodrigues have withdrawn from the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia, which starts on October 18 and ends on December 8, as it is clashing with the national team’s tour of West Indies.

According to ESPN Cricinfo, the players are going to give the league a miss. India is flying to the Caribbean on October 23 after finishing the ODI engagements against the Proteas women on October 14. “The BCCI doesn’t discourage any of our women’s players from taking part in overseas leagues as long as their participation doesn’t clash with their national duties,” BCCI’s general manager (cricket operations) Saba Karim was quoted as saying by the website.

Key Takeaways:

• Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues to miss the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia in October.
• Kaur became the first cricketer from the country — male or female — to play in Australia’s Big Bash League.
• Kaur was the second Indian cricketer to play in the KIA league. Smriti Mandhana being the first.
• The 18-year-old Jemimah was named in the Yorkshire Diamonds squad for the fourth and final edition of the Kia Super League (KSL) this year.

“In this case, there’s an international series to be played, so that will automatically be on top of their list of priorities,” he said.

READ: Here’s Why 18-Year-Old Jemimah Rodrigues Should Be Your Next Idol

In 2016, all-rounder Kaur  was the first Indian player to sign the Big Bash League contract. She was slated to play for the Surrey Stars in last year’s competition. But she missed out because of a shoulder injury she had sustained in the 2017 World Cup.

Kaur became the first cricketer from the country — male or female — to play in Australia’s Big Bash League.

Kaur played for Sydney Thunders last season and has reportedly been approached by the Melbourne Stars. Mandhana has played for Brisbane Heats and Hobart Hurricanes. But for Rodrigues it was supposed to be a maiden WBBL contract after a good Kia Super League (KSL) season in England with Yorkshire Diamonds.

Mandhana continues to perform brilliantly on the field as the opener and number one ODI batswoman was awarded with the Arjuna Award recently. The all-rounder is levelling up her game in the lead up to the international circuit.

After being awarded the ODI Player of the Year by ICC, the talented batswoman was also awarded ‘Women’s Leading Cricketer of the Year’ in the 2018 edition of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack.

Also Read: All you need to know about cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur

22-year-old Mandhana is only the second Indian woman to win an International Cricket Council award, fast bowler Jhulan Goswami being the first one, who was named women’s player of the year in 2007.

“You have to improve because other teams are also keeping an eye on you. Adding new shots is not something which I am looking for, I am looking to consistently hit the same length of balls in different places,” said Mandhana, who was prepping for another season in the Kia Super League, held in the UK last month. Smriti Mandhana also made it to the ‘Forbes India 30 Under 30’ list this year, the only cricketer.

Harmanpreet became the second Indian cricketer to play in the KIA league. Smriti Mandhana being the first

Mumbai’s rising cricketer Jemimah, on the other hand, debuted in English county cricket with the Diamonds in the Kia Super League. The 18-year-old was named in the Yorkshire Diamonds squad for the fourth and final edition of the Kia Super League (KSL) this year.

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