Big Bash League hopeful of luring overseas players for women's and men's competitions

Alistair Dobson says plans are in place to welcome foreign players for both tournaments later in the year but admits there are plenty of hurdles to jump due to COVID-19

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Overseas players could yet join the women's and men's Big Bash League when the competitions get under way later this year.

The schedule for both tournaments was released on Wednesday (July 15), but compromises have been made to ensure they can go ahead amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

While the sixth women's event will move around the country, starting in Brisbane and Perth on the opening weekend on October 17-18 before moving to Adelaide, Tasmania, Sydney, and Melbourne, the men's event will see a reduced number of double-headers.

Getting underway on December 3 - the same day as Australia and India's first Test at the Gabba begins - the 10th men's showcase will be the longest ever in terms of days (65) and climaxes with the final on February 6.

But organisers are optimistic that foreign players will be available to add some much-needed stardust to the T20 competition. Currently, Australian borders are shut to overseas tourists with exemption visas required to enter the country. Those who are permitted to enter must then undergo a 14-day quarantine period upon arriving.

This would be problematic for sides who want to bolster their squads or make changes to their international contingent at short notice. Currently, the WBBL allows three overseas players were team, while a maximum of six is allowed for the men's version, with two permitted in each starting XI.

"The prospect of bringing overseas players into the WBBL and BBL are really important components of those leagues," said tournament chief Alistair Dobson.

^{Sydney Sixers scooped the title during the ninth edition of the men's BBL}

"We're working with the relevant authorities and our internal experts to make sure protocols and exemptions are in place. We are optimistic at having overseas players part of both competitions again. 

"And there are a number of things that we have got in place to give ourselves the best shot of doing that. Hopefully, they'll be some announcements in the near future that will be even more exciting. 

"The ability for clubs to bring replacement overseas players in is going to be more challenging on a short-term basis than it has been in the past. 

"The key is we need to be planned and organised and management strategies for clubs are going to have to be really in place ahead of time.

"We're confident that we'll get the players in that are important to the league. Flexibility is going to be important."

Both tournaments were graced by some of the best overseas players around during the last editions, with the likes of England captain Heather Knight, New Zealand's Amelia Kerr, South African AB de Villiers and Rashid Khan of Afghanistan among those to grace the leagues.

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