Pooja Vastrakar Joins Brisbane Heat In WBBL 08

Brisbane Heat has completed the signing of emerging India all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar for the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) season 8.

Vastrakar has played two Tests, 23 ODIs and 27 T20 Internationals in the Indian colours since making her debut in 2018.

Pleased to welcome Pooja Vastrakar to WBBL: Ashley Noffke

It was in India’s tour of Australia in 2021, that the Indian all-rounder allured everyone with her performance and carried her brilliance in the 2022 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.

She bailed India out of a precarious situation in their opening game against Pakistan. She scored 67 off 59 balls in a 122-run stand with Sneh Rana for the seventh wicket. Vastrakar finished the tournament as India’s joint second highest wicket-taker (10) with Rana.

Brisbane Heat women’s team head coach Ashley Noffke was delighted with the signing of Vastrakar for the next edition.

“Pooja is an outstanding athlete. She bowls with sharp pace, can find the boundary with the bat down the order and is an absolute jet in the field,” Noffke said, as mentioned in the release on Heat’s official website.

“We’re very pleased to welcome her to the WBBL and are excited about the experience we can offer her. She’s certainly a player of the future for India and one that we expect can make a difference for the Heat this summer,” he added.

Pooja Vastrakar to become third Indian player to play for Brisbane Heat in WBBL

Vastrakar would be the third Indian player to play for the Brisbane outfit after Smriti Mandhana and Poonam Yadav. She joins New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr as the second overseas signing of the franchise this year.

Vastrakar is part of India’s squad for the upcoming Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham. The Indian all-rounder along with Sabbhineni Meghana tested positive for Covid-19 and both the players stayed back in India as the rest of the contingent flew to Birmingham on Monday.

Brisbane Heat WBBL squad: Jess Jonassen (capt), Amelia Kerr (NZ), Pooja Vastrakar (Ind), Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Laura Harris, Mikayla Hinkley, Ellie Johnston, Charli Knott, Georgia Redmayne, Courtney Sippel, Georgia Voll

Also Read: Pooja Vastrakar Still In Quarantine, S Meghana To Join India Squad In UK