ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 21: Meg Lanning of Australia looks on during a Southern Stars training session at Adelaide Oval on February 21, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Morne de Klerk/Getty Images)

The Melbourne Stars have confirmed skipper Meg Lanning won't feature in the upcoming WBBL tournament as she continues her leave of absence from the game.

Lanning stepped away from her duties last month indefinitely, with the Australian captain choosing not to represent her country for the foreseeable future.

Her absence will also impact her upcoming domestic campaign, with the Stars to enter WBBL|08 without the competition's two-time leading run-scorer.

In a short statement released by the Melbourne franchise on Tuesday, the Star confirmed Lanning won't partake in this year's tournament.

"Melbourne Stars Captain Meg Lanning will continue her indefinite break from cricket and will not play in WBBL|08," the Stars statement reads

"The club respects her decision and asks that her privacy continue to be respected."

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Lanning has recorded 1,805 runs from 54 WBBL appearances at an average of 41.97 with the bat in hand.

The Stars' prospects of claiming their first WBBL title will remain intact given their impressive recruitment spree, having recently acquired Indian star Jemimah Rodrigues for the summer.

The Melbourne stars will begin their WBBL|08 season against the Brisbane Heat on Saturday, October 15 at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay.