Smriti Mandhana | WBBL
Smriti Mandhana. Credit: Getty Images

India’s T20I skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and star batswoman Jemimah Rodrigues is likely to miss the upcoming edition of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL). The tournament, which will be a standalone competition for the first time, will take much earlier than usual – from October 18 to December 8.

The tournament will clash with India’s month-long tour to West Indies with the players departing on October 23. The women’s team is currently plying their trade against South Africa in the T20Is and will also play three ODIs after that which ends on October 14. As a result, they will be left with a very short window at the end of the fifth edition of WBBL.

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Besides, the players are also keen to be fresh ahead of the Women’s World T20 in February. Ahead of that, India will tour Australia next year which will feature a tri-series involving England – from January 31 to February 12. The tight scheduling meant Sydney Thunder did not offer a contract extension to Harmanpreet Kaur.

Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues Likely To Miss The Upcoming WBBL
Harmanpreet Kaur. Credit: Getty Images

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Smriti Mandhana, who was with the Hobart Hurricanes, would have continued for a second consecutive edition. On the other hand, Jemimah Rodrigues, who had a standout tournament in Kia Super League, will have to wait long for making his WBBL debut.

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BCCI’s general manager (cricket operations) Saba Karim said that they don’t discourage anybody from playing in foreign leagues. But with international commitments at the same time, the players will have to prioritise.

The BCCI doesn’t discourage any of our women’s players from taking part in overseas leagues as long as their participation [in those tournaments] doesn’t clash with their national duties,” Karim told ESPNcricinfo. “In this case, there’s an international series to be played, so that will automatically be on top of their list of priorities,” he added.

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