Babar vs Shaheen clash set to headline BBL 15 as full fixtures released

The Big Bash League (BBL) has announced the full schedule for its highly anticipated 15th edition, with 44 matches set to be played between December 14, 2025 to January 25, 2026. This season promises non-stop cricket action, with matches scheduled every night except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The tournament will kick off with a blockbuster opener between the Perth Scorchers and the Sydney Sixers at Perth Stadium. The game will not only feature two of the most successful franchises in BBL history but will also see Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam make his debut for the Sixers.

Adding further excitement to the season, fans will witness a thrilling face-off later in the league when Babar Azam’s Sydney Sixers take on Brisbane Heat, featuring Pakistan’s pace ace Shaheen Shah Afridi. The left-arm fast bowler was the No.1 pick in this year’s BBL draft and is expected to be a key player for the Heat.

Each team will play at least one home game within the first 10 days, thanks to a fan-friendly schedule aimed at maximizing crowd attendance and viewership.

General Manager of the League, Alistair Dobson, called BBL 15 “the season we've been waiting a long time for,” pointing to the clear scheduling window and strong availability of international stars as reasons for high expectations.

"Obviously anything we do around an Ashes summer is huge but to then have a good clear run of nights available from mid-December to the end of January where we can play the BBL every night is one that adds up to a pretty strong season for us," Dobson said.

This year’s schedule has been carefully coordinated around the Ashes series, which ends in early January, allowing Australian Test stars like Steve Smith, Travis Head, and Josh Inglis to rejoin their BBL sides in time for the business end of the tournament.

The finals will retain their classic four-game structure, starting with the Qualifier on January 20 and culminating with the final on Sunday, January 25.

Other notable fixtures include a rematch between Sydney Thunder and Hobart Hurricanes on December 16 and a Boxing Day double-header featuring the Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Sixers at the SCG and Perth Scorchers vs Hobart Hurricanes at Optus Stadium.

The Melbourne Renegades will start their campaign with two matches in Geelong due to ongoing pitch recovery at Marvel Stadium, while the Melbourne Stars will once again host one interstate match in Canberra against the Thunder on December 28.

In addition to regular squad members, clubs will be allowed to sign two extra Cricket Australia-contracted players on a marquee supplementary list, following last year’s model that featured stars like Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.