Pakistan players among top names in BBL 15 overseas draft

Several top Pakistani cricketers, including Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Rizwan, have been named in the initial overseas draft list for the 15th edition of the Big Bash League (BBL). Cricket Australia released the list ahead of the draft scheduled for June 19, with Brisbane Heat holding the first pick.

The draft also features international stars such as England’s Sam Curran and Alex Hales, New Zealand’s Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee, Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera, and West Indies’ fast-bowling talent Shamar Joseph.

The Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) draft list includes well-known names like India’s Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey, West Indies’ Deandra Dottin, and Pakistan’s Fatima Sana. England is strongly represented with Lauren Bell, Sophie Ecclestone, Heather Knight, and Danni Wyatt-Hodge, while South Africa’s Shabnim Ismail and Chloe Tryon are also part of the nominations.

For the first time, the BBL and WBBL drafts have been moved to June to give franchises more time for planning. Over 600 overseas players have shown interest in the two leagues, according to Cricket Australia.

In the lead-up to the draft, several teams have confirmed pre-signings. These include Jamie Overton and Laura Wolvaardt for Adelaide Strikers, Colin Munro and Nadine de Klerk for Brisbane Heat, Chris Jordan for Hobart Hurricanes, Tim Seifert and Hayley Matthews for Melbourne Renegades, Tom Curran and Marizanne Kapp for Melbourne Stars, Finn Allen and Sophie Devine for Perth Scorchers, Amelia Kerr for Sydney Sixers, and Sam Billings and Chamari Athapaththu for Sydney Thunder.

As of now, the Hobart Hurricanes have not named any pre-signed players for the WBBL, and the Sydney Sixers have not confirmed any pre-signings for the BBL.

Brisbane Heat and Sydney Sixers will have the first picks in the BBL and WBBL drafts respectively. Each draft will have four rounds, with teams selecting players from four salary bands: Platinum (Rounds 1–2), Gold (Rounds 2–3), Silver (Rounds 3–4), and Bronze (Round 4 only).

Each franchise must select at least three players, including any pre-signings, and may pass once during the draft.