Harmanpreet Bhullar (27), on Friday became the first Indian woman cricket player to be selected to play for Sydney Thunders in the Women’s Big Bash League (BBL), Australia’s domestic T-20 cricket league, says a report in The Indian Express.
“Main shabda ch byaan nahi kar sakda apni khushi (I cannot describe my feelings on this achievement),” Harmandar Bhullar, her father, told The Indian Express from her home in Moga, adding, “When she was born, had brought a suit with cricket words on it. Some years later, she started playing the game with boy trainees at the college ground. Initially, it was tough for us as the bats were costly and we could not afford them. But later, she would play for Punjab at a young age and also made her debut for the India while in high school.”
“I am feeling good about being picked up by Sydney Thunders in the Big Bash League. It’s an exciting opportunity to play with foreign women cricketers and I am happy that my hard work has paid off. I am waiting to land in Australia, said Harmanpreet who is in Pune for a training camp.
Meanwhile a report in Hindustantimes says all set to become the first Indian woman cricketer to play in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), Harmanpreet’s passion for the game has seen her rise from a humble town of Moga to become a lynchpin in the India squad. Wearing jersey number 84, a tribute to the 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims, the Sydney Thunder recruit dedicates her recent feat to those victims.
“I am very emotional when it comes to my roots. The 1984 anti-Sikh riots were very unfortunate. I did not lose any relative during the riots, but innocent people were the victims. Whatever I have achieved so far is dedicated to my community and to the 1984 riots victims,” said the 27-year-old India vice-captain.
On Friday, the phone just wouldn’t stop ringing. Although she had offers from Adelaide Strikers and Brisbane Heat too, Harman decided to zero in on the Sydney-based franchise, also the WBBL champions. Harmanpreet is excited on the prospect of playing in the foreign T20 league. “I had been talking to Sydney Thunder captain Alex Blackwell over the last couple of days,” Harman said.
