Pakistan Stars Join BBL and WBBL Overseas Drafts
Pakistan Quartet in BBL Draft
Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Rizwan headline the Pakistan presence in the first overseas draft list of BBL 15, released on Tuesday. The draft is set for June 19, with Brisbane Heat holding the No. 1 pick and the opening chance to secure a player. Afridi, yet to feature in the BBL, will be among the most anticipated selections.
Other International Names in the Mix
England’s Sam Curran and Alex Hales, New Zealand’s Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee, Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera, and West Indies’ rising pacer Shamar Joseph complete the initial list of ten overseas players.
WBBL Draft Features Indian and Pakistani Stars
In the WBBL draft, India’s Shikha Pandey and Jemimah Rodrigues have been nominated, along with Pakistan’s Fatima Sana and West Indies’ Deandra Dottin. England’s Lauren Bell, Sophie Ecclestone, Heather Knight, and Danni Wyatt-Hodge also feature, while South Africa’s Shabnim Ismail and Chloe Tryon strengthen the list.
High Overseas Interest in Both Leagues
Cricket Australia confirmed that over 600 overseas players have registered for both the BBL and WBBL drafts. The move to advance the drafts to June aims to provide clubs with greater clarity and certainty in building squads.
Pre-Signed Overseas Players Announced
Several overseas players have already been confirmed:
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Adelaide Strikers: Jamie Overton, Laura Wolvaardt
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Brisbane Heat: Colin Munro, Nadine de Klerk
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Hobart Hurricanes: Chris Jordan
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Melbourne Renegades: Tim Seifert, Hayley Matthews
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Melbourne Stars: Tom Curran, Marizanne Kapp
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Perth Scorchers: Finn Allen, Sophie Devine
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Sydney Sixers: Amelia Kerr
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Sydney Thunder: Sam Billings, Chamari Athapaththu
Hurricanes (WBBL) and Sixers (BBL) are yet to announce pre-signed players.
Draft Structure and Salary Bands
The drafts for both leagues will feature four rounds, with each team getting one pick per round. Players are available across four salary bands:
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Platinum (Round 1 or 2)
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Gold (Round 2 or 3)
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Silver (Round 3 or 4)
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Bronze (Round 4 only)
Each franchise must make at least three selections, including pre-signed players, and are allowed to pass once. Heat will pick first in the BBL draft, while Sixers hold the top pick in the WBBL draft.