Harmanpreet Kaur joins Women's BBL, signs for Sydney Thunder

Harmanpreet Kaur has become the first Indian women's cricketer to be signed by an overseas Twenty20 franchise after she inked a deal with defending champions Sydney Thunder for the second edition of the Australian league, which will be played in December-January.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India president, Anurag Thakur, confirmed the signing during a press conference after concluding the sport's governing body's working committee meeting in Dharamsala on Friday.

This assumes significance as it is the first signing since the BCCI cleared the way for the women's team to participate in overseas leagues such as the Women's BBL and the Women's Super League in England.

Harmanpreet, the India vice-captain, grabbed attention when she scored a 31-ball 46 to help her side beat Australia in a historic chase in the series opener.

The all-rounder also stood out among her peers in an otherwise disappointing World T20 campaign for India, where she scored 89 runs and took seven wickets.