17-year-old Shafali Verma set to play for Birmingham franchise in The Hundred

New Delhi, May 11: India’s teen batting sensation Shafali Verma will be playing for Birmingham Phoenix in the inaugural edition of The Hundred. Following this, she might also be taking part in a Sydney franchise in the Women’s Big bash League later in the year.

 

The 17-year-old, who is the world number one in ICC women’s T20I rankings, will join her skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, vice captain Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma in the 100-ball tournament involving eight men’s and women’s teams.

 

 

According to the reports, Shafali was approached by Birmingham franchise and the deal is about to be closed. She will be replacing New Zealand’s Sophie Devine in the team. She is also in talks with the Sydney franchise to play in the women’s Big Bash.

 

While The Hundred, which was postponed last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is scheduled to start on July 21 with the women’s match between the Oval Invincibles and Manchester Originals in London, women’s Big Bash League is slated later in the year.

 

 

It will be the first overseas T20 competition for Shafali, who has emerged as a powerful striker in world cricket with 617 runs at a strike rate of 148.31 in 22 international matches.