Babar Azam, Shadab Khan’s BBL signings praised by former Australian pacer

Former Australian pacer and Sydney Thunder General Manager, Trent Copeland, has expressed excitement over the inclusion of Pakistan’s T20I vice-captain Shadab Khan and former captain Babar Azam in the 15th edition of the Big Bash League (BBL).

In a video shared on the BBL's official social media platforms, Copeland praised the Pakistani duo, saying their presence will add star power and quality to the league.

“We are going to have Babar Azam and Shadab Khan playing in one of the biggest games, that stuff is magic,” said Copeland.

This will be Shadab’s fourth stint in the BBL. He previously featured for Brisbane Heat, Sydney Sixers, and Hobart Hurricanes. So far, Shadab has played 12 BBL matches, taking 14 wickets at an economy rate of 7.50.

Babar Azam, meanwhile, was pre-signed by Sydney Sixers before the draft and is set to make his BBL debut in the upcoming season. The former Pakistan captain was one of the most sought-after names in the draft.

The BBL 15 overseas player draft was held on Thursday in Melbourne. A total of 74 Pakistani players were registered, and six of the eight franchises picked at least one from Pakistan’s current or former squad.

Among the top picks, Shaheen Shah Afridi was selected first overall, joining a new franchise for the season. Mohammad Rizwan followed as the third overall platinum pick, while England’s Luke Wood was chosen second.

Melbourne Stars retained right-arm pacer Haris Rauf, who has been part of their squad since 2019. Rauf is currently playing for the San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025.

Other Pakistani players drafted include Hasan Ali, who was picked by Adelaide Strikers. This will be his first BBL season, though he has played in other international leagues like the Lanka Premier League, Bangladesh Premier League, and Caribbean Premier League.

Former Pakistan U19 cricketer Hassan Khan also earned a spot, being selected by the Melbourne Renegades in the Gold category.