Ravichandran Ashwin is on the verge of becoming the first capped Indian male cricketer to feature in the Big Bash League (BBL), with four franchises competing for his signature. The veteran spinner is expected to join the tournament in its latter stages this season.
Four Teams Compete for Ashwin’s Signature
It is understood that Sydney Thunder, Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Sixers, and Adelaide Strikers are in the race to sign Ashwin. Among them, Thunder and Hurricanes are believed to be leading the chase, with a final decision expected later this week.
“𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝑩𝑩𝑳 𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚,” 𝒂 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒈𝒖𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅.
Ashwin’s retirement from the IPL earlier this year has cleared the way for him to explore franchise cricket abroad — something the BCCI only allows for retired players.
Ashwin’s Overseas Commitments
The 37-year-old has already entered the ILT20 auction in the UAE, scheduled for next Tuesday. If picked, he will play the tournament from December 2 to January 4, before potentially joining the BBL from mid-January.
The BBL runs from December 14 to January 25, meaning Ashwin could be available for three to four league matches and possibly the finals.
“𝑨𝒔𝒉𝒘𝒊𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒇 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏, 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒂 𝒗𝒂𝒍𝒖𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒔,” 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒔𝒖𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒔𝒕.
BBL’s Overseas Rules and Exemptions
Each BBL side can only field three overseas players in their XI, though they can sign up to seven, including replacements. Ashwin didn’t nominate for the draft earlier due to his IPL career, but league rules allow exemptions if circumstances change — a precedent set by Martin Guptill and Nat Sciver-Brunt in past seasons.
Cricket Australia is also expected to back the move with a special marketing agreement, ensuring Ashwin’s arrival benefits the league without breaching salary cap limits.
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