Indian women permitted to play overseas leagues

It has been a point of discussion for some time now, whether or not Indian women cricketers should be allowed to feature in overseas leagues. Several leading international players such as Australia captain Meg Lanning, New Zealand captain Suzie Bates, the West Indies skipper Stafanie Taylor and her teammate Deandra Dottin were named to partner the English women for the franchise-based six-team tournament. There were no Indians named in the list released by the ECB.

Earlier BCCI President Anurag Thakur had said in May 2016 that he planning for an IPL-style T20 league for women’s cricket. “We have not taken any decision [on not sending Indian women to the T20 league in England] as of now,” Thakur told ESPNcricinfo. “As far as leagues are concerned, we are also thinking something [on the same lines] within the BCCI as well. We will decide on it during the meeting at the end of the month.”

Clare Connor, the ECB’s head of women’s cricket had earlier said that they would prefer to contact the players on their own.

“We asked whether the teams would prefer to contact their own players about it or whether they would prefer us to contact them directly,” Connor said. “Mostly, we contacted players directly: the boards gave us their main squad’s email address and we then communicated with players, asking them to express an interest if they wished to be considered for selection for the Super League.”

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Indian women cricketers are now permitted to play overseas leagues such as the Women’s Big Bash League in Australia and the Women’s Super League in England, subject to their contracts being approved by the BCCI. The WSL will be held this year from July 30 to August 14. The BCCI was yet to decide on the issue when the ECB sent a letter to all Full Members seeking their permission to enlist players.

18 overseas players from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies had signed up with ECB. Indian players hadn’t featured in the inaugural WBBL as well.

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