The Fairbreak Global Invitational T20 tournament, which is the world’s first privately funded event, will be played in Dubai, in association with Cricket Hong Kong from May 1 to May 15. The tournament will see participation from 90 players across 36 countries. These 90 players will be divided into six teams. A total of 19 matches will be played in the space of 15 days.
Out of the total players that have signed up for this exciting competition, there were three players from India, including Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma and Jemimah Rodrigues. However, to the disappointment of these players and their fans, Kaur, Sharma, and Rodrigues will not be permitted to feature in the Fairbreak tournament since the BCCI has refused to give them permission.
The reason for this is that all three players will be involved in the Senior Women’s T20 domestic tournament in India that will be played from April 15 to May 4. Kaur will be a part of Punjab, Sharma will represent Bengal and Rodrigues will feature for Mumbai in the Senior Women’s T20 domestic competition.
As reported by Hindustan Times, a BCCI official said, “The Indian players were not allowed as the meet clashes with the domestic women’s T20 league. Also, key international players require adequate rest before the Women’s T20 Challenge.” The Women’s T20 Challenge, which is also referred to as the Women’s IPL, will be played during the IPL play-offs and after the end of Fairbreak Global Invitational T20 tournament.
It is known that in the past, players from Karnataka and Delhi were given the NOC to feature in Fairbreak’s Global XIs in the 2018 and 2019 seasons. However this time due to the domestic calendar clashing with the Fairbreak Global Invitational T20 tournament, the Indian stars have not been granted the NOC.
Unlike the Indian men cricketers, the female players are allowed to participate in global leagues like the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia and the Hundred in England. Indian women cricketers like Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Shafali Verma, Radha Yadav, Poonam Yadav, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Richa Ghosh have all played in the global leagues.
I am a former cricketer having represented Mumbai University at All India University level. I was a part of MCA probables for the U-19 and U-23 age group. I have been an avid cricket writer for the last five years. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D from IIT Bombay.
