Shafali Verma and Radhav Yadav to play in WBBL

17-year-old Indian batswoman Shafali Verma will play for Sydney Sixers in the upcoming edition of Women’s Big Bash League.

Shafali Verma is currently the No.1 Batswoman in the ICC T20 rankings. Verma who made her International debut at the age of 15, featured in 22 T20I matches scoring 617 runs at an average of 29.38 powered by a healthy strike rate of 29.38. Known for her dashing style of batting, she has already bagged a contract with Birmingham Phoenix to play in The Hundred.

Given that Shafali is a minor, her dad Sanjeev Verma had given the consent for her to play in the WBBL after BCCI gave her the green signal to play the T20 league.

“Yes, Shafali has signed the contract with Sydney Sixers, and given she is a minor, I have had to give my consent, too,” Verma’s father, Sanjeev, told ESPNcricinfo. 

“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 also got a maiden Test and ODI call up to Team India touring England next month.

21-year-old left arm spinner Radhav Yadav is also likely to sign up for either Sydney Sixers or Sydney Thunder to playing in the WBBL this season. Yadav played 1 ODI and 37 T20Is for Team India. She is currently ranked No.7 in the ICC T20I bowlers’ rankings.

The left arm spinner picked 51 T20 International wickets in 37 matches at a brilliant average of 16.68 conceding just 6.28 runs per over.

Currently Harmanpreet Kaur (Sydney Thunder), Veda Krishnamurthy (Hobary Hurricanes) and Smriti Mandhana (Brisbane Heat) are the Indian cricketers to feature in the Women’s Big Bash League.