Laura Wolvaardt summoned to replace injured Beth Mooney at Gujarat Giants

Mooney was signed to captain and keep wicket for Gujarat but injured her knee in the opening game and hasn't played since

Nick Friend | 08/03/2023 at 15:31

South Africa batter Laura Wolvaardt has been picked up by Gujarat Giants as an injury replacement for Beth Mooney, who has been ruled out for the reminder of the inaugural Women's Premier League.

Mooney suffered a knee injury while setting off for a single in the first over of Gujarat's run-chase against Mumbai Indians in the tournament opener and had to retire hurt. She was due to captain and keep wicket for Giants under the stewardship of her former Australia teammate, Rachael Haynes.

Haynes, though, has moved to fill Mooney's void by picking up Wolvaardt, who starred on South Africa's run to the T20 World Cup final and made a fine half century in the final defeat by Australia.

Wolvaardt, who went unsold at the auction February, was always expected to be top of the list for franchises in need of an emergency batter.

She arrives in good touch, having made a half century on Wednesday in the first of three exhibition matches as part of the Pakistan Women's League's soft launch.

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^{Beth Mooney hasn't played since the tournament opener (Indranil Mukherjee/AFP via Getty Images)}

She thanked the PCB in a statement as she departed her teammates at Super Women with a one-match lead in the three-game series.

"I wish both sides the best of luck with rest of the series," she said. "I am sure both sides will strive hard and they will do well and learn a lot from the experience they will get from the matches.

"I cannot wait to return to Pakistan in September with the South Africa's national women's team and learning more about this amazing country."

She has been replaced in Pakistan by her international captain, Sune Luus.

Sneh Rana has been installed as Gujarat Giants' captain in place of Mooney, while Australian Ashleigh Gardner has been promoted to vice-captain.