\"Ashwin's decision to play the full BBL 15 season with Sydney Thunder is another exciting moment for our club,\u201d Copeland said in a statement on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cFrom the outset, we put an offer to Ashwin to bring him to Western Sydney for the entire BBL|15 season. Following the initial announcement of his signing, conversations progressed quickly, and it was a no-brainer from Thunder's perspective to bring him in for the whole tournament.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ashwin\u2019s full-season commitment comes after he went unsold at the UAE ILT20 player auction, where none of the six franchises bid for him at the highest base price of USD 1,20,000. Following that, the 39-year-old moved swiftly to extend his Big Bash availability, committing to the Thunder for the entire season, including finals.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThis decision demonstrates Ashwin's commitment to our club and what we're trying to build,\u201d Copeland added. \u201cWe're delighted to be bringing in an icon of the game \u2013 a leader and world-class player on-field \u2013 and someone who will inspire a new wave of members and fans to join the Thunder Nation.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ashwin, who retired from international cricket last December and from the IPL in August, will become the first nationally capped Indian men\u2019s player to feature in the Big Bash. His first appearance for the Thunder will be in their season-opener against Hobart Hurricanes on December 16, followed by a home debut in the Sydney Smash at Engie Stadium on December 20.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThis decision demonstrates Ashwin's commitment to our club and what we're trying to build,\u201d Copeland added. \u201cWe're delighted to be bringing in an icon of the game \u2013 a leader and world-class player on-field \u2013 and someone who will inspire a new wave of members and fans to join the Thunder Nation.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
BBL general manager Alistair Dobson also hailed the signing, calling it a landmark moment for the league. \u201cI think it's a great sign that players around the world think the BBL is something that they want to come and play in, whether they've been here before or not,\u201d Dobson said. \u201cTalking to Ashwin and his agent over a period of time around the things that are important to him was a really interesting process \u2026 and I know the Thunder have done a great job getting him to sign with them with all the things that he can bring to them and they can offer him as well. It's going to be a big part of our season, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n