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India’s young off-spinner Shreyanka Patil has made history by becoming the first Indian woman to secure a contract in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL). Shreyanka will be representing the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the highly anticipated WCPL 2023, scheduled to take place from August 31 to September 10.
It is worth mentioning that this is not the first time any Indian women cricketer will play in an overseas league. Many players in the past have also been part of foreign tournaments. Unlike Men’s cricketers, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has allowed Indian women cricketers to participate in overseas leagues, providing them with valuable exposure and experience.
Several prominent Indian players to feature in the tournaments outside India include the Women in Blue skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemima Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, and Richa Ghosh. All these have previously played in prestigious leagues such as the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia and The Hundred in England.
What sets Shreyanka’s achievement apart is the fact that she has been offered a contract in an overseas league even before making her senior international debut for India. The 2023 WCPL season will be her opportunity to showcase her talent on a global stage following her outstanding performances in domestic cricket. Shreyanka had previously made a name for herself in the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL) for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), displaying her potential as a skilled and promising off-spinner.
Shreyanka even won the ‘Player of the Tournament’ award in the recently concluded Women’s Emerging Asia Cup held in Hong Kong for her stellar performance. She showcased exceptional bowling skills in the event and bagged nine wickets in just two completed games.
Speaking of the WCPL 2023, the upcoming event promises an exhilarating cricketing experience, with an expanded schedule featuring seven matches to be played in 11 days. The tournament will witness the participation of three teams, namely the Barbados Royals, Guyana Amazon Warriors, and the Trinbago Knight Riders. Shreyanka’s inclusion in the Guyana Amazon Warriors side adds a new dimension to the competition, capturing the attention and excitement of Indian cricket enthusiasts.
Here are the complete squads of all three teams:
Barbados Royals: Hayley Matthews, Chinelle Henry, Qiana Joseph, Marizanne Kapp, Laura Harris, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Gaby Lewis, Afy Fletcher, Aaliyah Alleyne, Rashada Williams, Jannillea Glasgow, Chedean Nation, Vanessa Watts, Trishan Holder, Jahzara Claxton
Guyana Amazon Warriors: Stafanie Taylor, Suzie Bates, Shemaine Campbelle, Sophie Devine, Shreyanka Patil, Cherry-Ann Fraser, Shabika Gajnabi, Sheneta Grimmond, Shabnim Ismail, Djenaba Joseph, Natasha McLean, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Kaysia Schultz, Shakera Selman
Trinbago Knight Riders: Deandra Dottin, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Dane van Niekerk, Mignon du Preez, Fran Jonas, Lee-Ann Kirby, Kycia Knight, Kyshona Knight, Anisa Mohammed, Carena Noel, Orla Prendergast, Samara Ramnath, Shunelle Sawh, Zaida James