Chantam to be first Thai in Women's T20 Challenge
Several leading players are missing from this year's tournament
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Nattakan Chantam will become the first player from Thailand to feature in the Women s T20 Challenge to be played in the United Arab Emirates from Nov. 4 to 9, the organising Indian cricket board (BCCI) said on Sunday.
The three-team tournament is played alongside the men s Indian Premier League with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) hoping to launch a full-fledged women s IPL in future.
Opener Chantam, who was Thailand s top scorer in this year s Women s T20 World Cup in Australia, will represent the Trailblazers captained by India s Smriti Mandhana, BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in a statement.
All-rounders Deandra Dottin (West Indies) and Salma Khatun (Bangladesh) and left-arm England spinner Sophie Ecclestone are Trailblazers other three overseas players.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the Supernovas, who won both the titles since the tournament s start in 2018.
The Sri Lankan duo of Chamari Atapattu and Shashikala Siriwardene, West Indian Shakera Selman and South Africa s Ayabonga Khaka are the overseas players for the Supernovas.
Former India captain Mithali Raj will skipper the Velocity side, also including New Zealander Leigh Kasperek, England s Danielle Wyatt, South African Sune Luus and Jahanara Alam of Bangladesh.
The teams will play each other once before the top two contest in the final a day before the IPL summit clash.
Several leading players are missing from this year s tournament, which clashes with the Women s Big Bash League in Australia, which starts on Oct. 25, with the final set for Nov. 29.
