Shafali Verma, Radha Yadav to feature in Australia's Women's Big Bash League

Indian cricketers Shafali Verma and Radha Yadav are a part of the of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia. Verma has already signed a contract with the Sydney Sixers, as was confirmed by her father. Verma finalized the deal with the Sixers before signing up with Birmingham Phoenix. Pheonox are a British outfit that will play in England’s new cricket league, the Hundred. Yadav, on the other hand, will either sign a contract with Sydney Thunder or the Sixers. It is yet to be decided.

“Yes, Shafali has signed the contract with Sydney Sixers, and given she is a minor, I have had to give my consent, too,” said Sanjeev Verma, Shafali’s father. He also extended his gratitude to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Haryana Cricket Association (HCA) for allowing Shafali to play in the WBBL.

“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,” Sanjeev Verma said.

Verma will be re-united with head coach Ben Sawyer. “She will reunite with her Sixers coach Sawyer and the experience should help her grow further in what has been a very positive road forward for the youngster,” a source said as quoted by news agency ANI.

Radha Yadav, on the other hand, is yet to finalize the side which she will represent. She has a choice between the current WBBL champions Sydney Thunder, or Shafali Verma’s slide Sydney Sixers. Either way, the two Indian cricketers will play for a Sydney-based franchise. Yadav is a much sought-after all-rounder who bowls left arm spin. She is currently on a record run of picking up at least one wicket in each of her 26 T20s.

As per reports, the BCCI will give NOCs to all players approached by the WBBL franchises.

Shafali Varma, 17, will take part in her first overseas league. She will travel to England to play Hundred for Birmingham Phoenix. Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, and Jemimah Rodrigues are the other Indians who will feature in the competition.