The Women’s Super League auction is just around the corner but India are firmly focused on their T20 World Cup opener against Pakistan as they aim to emulate the U19 women’s title-winning feat, insists captain Harmanpreet Kaur. The WPL auction is scheduled for February 13 in Mumbai, the day after India’s T20 World Cup opener against Pakistan.
“before that [the auction]we have a very important match and we will focus on that,” Harmanpreet told the T20 World Cup captain’s news conference.
“The World Cup is more important than anything else. Our focus is on the ICC trophy. These things keep happening and as a player you know what’s important to you and how you need to stay focused.
“We’re all mature enough to know what’s important to us,” she added.
Under Shafali Verma, India won the inaugural U19 T20 World Cup last month and the executives are hoping to add another ICC title to India’s trophy cabinet.
“After watching the U19 World Cup, we’re motivated to do what they did. They motivated us to do well, they’ve done it, we haven’t done it yet,” Harmanpreet said.
“It’s a very special moment for all of us and after watching the U19s, many of the girls who came home wanted to play cricket too, and that’s always our aim to inspire young girls who can come and play cricket.” The flamboyant India captain hopes the WPL will play a similar role in promoting women’s cricket in India as Women’s Big Bash and The Hundred have done in Australia and England.
“This is a very important day for all of us because we have been waiting for many years. The next two or three months are very important for women’s cricket. We have seen how the WBBL and the Centuries can help Their country raises the level of cricket. Hopefully the same will happen to our country.” Having played in the KIA Premier League, WBBL and Hundred, Harmanpreet is eager to see young Indians get a chance to play alongside international stars.
“It was a very different feeling. When I got that opportunity, it was the biggest life-changing moment. Other girls will experience that. It will be a fantastic opportunity to improve cricket and develop the game. “
“Auctions during WC are awkward”
New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine and her Australia captain Meg Lanning thought the WPL auction in the first week of the T20 World Cup would be an embarrassment.
Devine dubs it “the elephant in the room” because she thinks it’s hard for players not to think about it.
All Indians are in the T20 World Cup, which kicks off on Friday, and several international players have already signed up for the WPL auction.
“It’s going to be awkward… some people get picked up, some people don’t, you get value relative to your value, it’s not the best thing to do as a human being, but it’s a job and it’s what we do Worked hard for it,” Devine said.
“It’s been such a unique experience and I think you’d be naive to think it wouldn’t be a distraction, it’s just the way you deal with it. But I just think it’s a huge step forward for women’s cricket, I’m really looking forward to it (but) the World Cup going on at the same time, so how we manage that (will matter),” Lanning reiterated Devine’s thoughts.
“As Soph said, it’s kind of awkward, but it’s just trying to accept it and understand that it’s actually a very exciting time and you don’t actually have much control over most of it, so you just have to wait have a look.
Australia’s entire 15-man World Cup squad has registered for the auction. Each team can pick up to seven overseas players, one of whom must be from a league country.
“It’s a new experience for us and at the same time we’re focused on what we’re trying to do here and that’s the most important thing.
“There’s no right or wrong way to do it, and everyone handles it individually as they wish.
“I think it’s important that you always work as a team, but also let people handle it the way they think is best,” Lanning added.
(This story was not edited by NDTV staff and was automatically generated from syndicated feeds.)
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