Sydney Thunder terms reports of signing Harmanpreet 'premature'

Reigning women's Big Bash League (WBBL) champions Sydney Thunder on Saturday clarified that the franchise is interested in roping in Indian all-rounder Harmanpreet Kaur, denying reports of her being already signed.

On Friday, while addressing the media after the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) working committee meeting in Dharamsala, President Anurag Thakur said that the 27-year-old has already been signed by Sydney Thunder for the WBBL.

The franchise, however denied having signed her, with general manager Nick Cummins terming the reports as premature. But he confirmed that the club had her firmly in its sights.

"We have been in discussions with Harmanpreet about joining Sydney Thunder for WBBL02," Cummins was quoted as saying by Cricket Australia (CA) website.

"At the moment no contract has been signed by the player or the club."

The aggressive middle order batswoman, along with her skipper Mithali Raj, veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami, started doing the rounds after the BCCI gave the green signal for women cricketers to take part in foreign T20 leagues.

Harmanpreet, who blasted a 31-ball 46 to guide India to a historic win against Australia at the Adelaide Oval earlier this year, scored 89 runs and took seven wickets in four outings in the ICC women's World T20.

--IANS

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