Women's Big Bash League 2022: Brisbane Heat signs India all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar

Brisbane: The Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) franchise Brisbane Heat on Thursday announced the signing of an Indian all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar to the League for the first time.

Vastrakar joined New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr as the Heat’s international recruits to date, as the build-up to WBBL-8 intensifies.

"The 22-year-old all-rounder caught the eye of the Heat during last summer’s tour by India and the ICC ODI World Cup in New Zealand, where coach Ashley Noffke was impressed by her all-round impact," the franchise said in a release.

A right-arm pace bowler who is also a dangerous lower order hitter, Vastrakar will become the third Indian woman to play for the Heat, following on from Smriti Mandhana and Poonam Yadav.

She was a strong performer in the World Cup in New Zealand at the start of the year, with finishing as her team’s second leading wicket-taker and producing an impressive 67 off 59 balls to counter-attack for her team when it was struggling against Pakistan.

Vastrakar has played 23 ODI games and 27 T20 Internationals, as well as two Tests.

She is currently recovering from Covid before looking to join the Indian team in the Commonwealth Games Village in Birmingham ahead of the opening rounds of the Women’s T20 competition.

It is the first time that Women’s Cricket has been included at the Games, with Australia and India among the 12 countries that will compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals. (UNI)