Australia Cricket Update: Indian cricketers could participate in this year's Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) even though no player has confirmed signing up for the T20 tournament yet.
The Indian team is in Mackay, training for the multi-format series against Australia with the first live ODI on September 21.
Shafali Verma and bowler Radha Yadav were rumoured to have signed up with Sydney Sixers, but nothing has been confirmed.
"I know there have been lots of exciting conversations going on (between clubs and India players). They're such a popular team, and popular players in their own right, that if we were able to see some of those players in the WBBL that'd be exciting. All our clubs are having lots of conversation, so we'll wait and see," Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia's General Manager of Big Bash Leagues, said to cricket.com.au.
Harmanpreet Kaur (Syndey Thunder), Smriti Mandhana (Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes) and Veda Krishnamurthy (Hobart Hurricanes) were some of the Indian cricketers who have played in the competition in previous seasons.
Kaur and Mandhana will be the top options for the upcoming season other than Shafali, Radha, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma and Poonam Yadav.
Reportedly, nine overseas players have signed up for the seventh season of WBBL, with 13 spots still available or yet to be revealed by clubs. Perth Scorchers have affirmed their three overseas players in New Zealand's Sophie Devine, South Africa's Marizanne Kapp and Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu.
Brisbane Heat has onboarded the South Africa pair of Nadine de Klerk and Anneke Bosch. But one spot is still left with New Zealand's Amelia Kerr dropping out last week due to mental health reasons.
Hobart Hurricanes have one spot left after stating the return of New Zealand's Rachel Priest and South Africa's Mignon Du Preez transferring from the Melbourne Stars.
Stars have selected Ireland all-rounder Kim Garth and have two overseas slots waiting. Adelaide Strikers approved the return of South Africa batter Laura Wolvaardt this week. Melbourne Renegades, Sydney Thunder and the Sixers are yet to declare their signings of overseas cricketers.
"We're optimistic after the great experience (we had) last year, and a great track record working with our clubs and various governments on getting the overseas players in. It's such an important part of the WBBL, we're the best cricket league in the world for women. We're on track again this year, we have great support from our clubs and government, (so) we're expecting a strong contingent of overseas players again," concluded Dobson.