Ashwin to enter ILT20 auction, could join Thunder in BBL

Ravichandran Ashwin, the veteran Indian offspinner, is set to extend his franchise career overseas this winter, entering the International League T20 auction on October 1 and joining Australia’s Big Bash League later in the season, multiple reports and a Sydney Thunder statement said. The move would mark the first appearance by a capped Indian male player in the BBL if final approvals are granted and the Thunder confirmation is completed as reported.

ESPNcricinfo reported that Ashwin has registered for the inaugural ILT20 auction in Dubai with a base price of USD 120,000, the highest of any player on the longlist. League officials said the fourth edition of the ILT20 runs from December 2 to January 4. The Big Bash League begins on December 14, with group matches through January 18 and finals from January 20 to 25, and Thunder officials indicated Ashwin will join their squad in early January to play the latter stages of the BBL campaign.

Initial media reports said four BBL franchises — Sydney Thunder, Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Sixers and Adelaide Strikers — showed interest in Ashwin, with Thunder and Hurricanes cited as frontrunners. Those accounts were followed by a Sydney...