Harmanpreet first Indian to sign up for Australian Big Bash League

- 'The WBBL is a great platform for women's cricketers, being the first player from my country to sign a contract for a BBL club is one of my best moments.'

Sydney Thunder on Sunday confirmed the signing of India vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur for the Women’s Big Bash League T20 season.
 
Kaur becomes the first Indian player to join an Australian Big Bash League Club after the Board of Control for Cricket in India approved its female players participating in foreign leagues.
 
"It’s a great feeling," said Harmanpreet Kaur.

"The WBBL is a great platform for women's cricketers, being the first player from my country to sign a contract for a BBL club is one of my best moments."

Sydney Thunder won the inaugural WBBL season, beating cross-town rivals the Sydney Sixers as the club won an historic double at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 24.

"My aim is to serve my team to win the WBBL title for the second time in a row," Kaur added.

"Playing with the best players against the best players is always a great feeling. I would definitely learn a lot of things from them all."
 
The 27-year old all-rounder has played 118 times for India across all formats, and impressed during India’s tour of Australia earlier in the year when she scored a 31-ball 46 to help her team chase down Australia’s 140 for five in Adelaide.
 
Sydney Thunder General Manager Nick Cummins was keen to secure a high quality overseas player as the Club looked to built on the success of the first season of WBBL.
 
"We are delighted to secure a player of the calibre of Harmanpreet," said Sydney Thunder General Manager Nick Cummins.  

"She was on the top of our target list, and we are very pleased that the BCCI has released her to play in Australia. Sydney Thunder prides itself on being an innovator in Australian cricket, so it is a real fillip for the club to have signed the first Indian international to play Big Bash cricket in Australia.”

Sydney Thunder will begin their defence of the Women’s Big Bash League when they play the Melbourne Stars at North Sydney Oval on December 10, which will be the first time a standalone women’s sporting competition will be broadcast in prime time on a commercial free-to-air television network’s primary channel in Australia.

Image: Harmanpreet Kaur