BBL 2020-21: Nicholas Pooran to represent Melbourne Stars in Big Bash League

Nicholas Pooran to represent Melbourne Stars: The West Indian T20I vice-captain is readying for a maiden stint in the Big Bash League.

West Indies T20I vice-captain Nicholas Pooran will represent Melbourne Stars in the imminent season of the Big Bash League. Pooran, 25, who has played 21 T20Is, will provide cover for England wicket-keeper batsman Jonny Bairstow who will be on international duties in South Africa.

While Bairstow will have to undergo a mandatory quarantine period upon reaching Australia, the same will not be the case with Pooran who will be traveling to Australia from New Zealand.

Due to the Trans-Tasman travel bubble that was recently established between Australia and New Zealand, Pooran will be allowed to immediately join the squad as his mandatory quarantine would have happened in New Zealand.

ALSO WATCH: Nicholas Pooran smashes 28 runs off Abdul Samad over in IPL 2020

“Nick [Nicholas Pooran] is an impressive player with some big gears who has been in demand in the IPL, the Carribean Premier League and Pakistan Super League in addition to his West Indies duties for some time. I’m looking forward to having his talents on our side this season,” Stars head coach David Hussey said in a statement.

Nicholas Pooran to represent Melbourne Stars in BBL 2020-21

Pooran, who is coming on the back of representing Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League, had scored 353 runs in 14 T20s at an average and strike rate of 35.30 and 169.71 respectively. At Stars, the southpaw will be seen playing under his Punjab teammate in Glenn Maxwell.

🎥 Nicholas Pooran at his destructive best.

Cannot wait for #BBL10! 💚#TeamGreen

pic.twitter.com/airvnJIwgg

— Melbourne Stars (@StarsBBL) November 11, 2020

“The Melbourne Stars have a very strong team and I’m happy I can be part of that for a few matches this season. I’m also excited to be part of the BBL and heard many good things from Glenn Maxwell. I will keep playing my natural game for the team and hope it helps get the Stars some positive results,” Pooran said in a statement.

In addition to this development, Stars have also confirmed that Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf won’t be available for BBL 2020-21 due to international commitments. Having picked 20 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 13.35, an economy rate of 7.05 and a strike rate of 11.3, Rauf was Stars’ highest wicket-taker last season and had went on to play for Pakistan soon after making a name in the Big Bash League.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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