- Joined
- Aug 29, 2023
- Runs
- 32,534
Pakistan superstar among international talent in Big Bash drafts
June 10, 2025
Pakistan superstar Shaheen Afridi is among an impressive array of players available for the KFC BBL|15 and Weber WBBL|11 Overseas Player Draft on June 19 when the first lists of nominations were revealed today.
Afridi is certain to cause huge interest among BBL clubs with Brisbane Heat holding the number one pick and having the first chance to take the fast-bowling sensation.
Afridi’s fellow Pakistan stars Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan are other high-profile players who have put their names forward for selection for KFC BBL|15.
Former England captain Heather Knight and countrywomen Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Bell and Danni Wyatt-Hodge are up for grabs for Weber WBBL|11, while Pakistan captain Fatima Sana, a bowling all-rounder, is hoping to be drafted for the first time.
The Big Bash Draft Hub, exclusively available in the Big Bash App features player nominations with up-to-date availability and retention status for each player as well as the latest draft news and information. More player nominations and international pre-signings will be revealed in the lead-up to the Draft.
This season’s draft has been brought forward to June to provide club’s more certainty about player selection as they use the available recruiting mechanisms to build their lists for the season to come.
Nominations announced today for the BBL|15 and WBBL|11 Drafts are below:
KFC BBL|15 Draft first nominations:
Name Country Retention eligible
Sam Curran England No
Alex Hales England Yes (Sydney Thunder)
Lockie Ferguson New Zealand Yes (Sydney Thunder)
Tim Southee New Zealand No
Shaheen Afridi Pakistan No
Shadab Khan Pakistan No
Haris Rauf Pakistan Yes (Melbourne Stars)
Mohammad Rizwan Pakistan No
Kusal Perera Sri Lanka No
Shamar Joseph West Indies No
Weber WBBL|11 Draft first nominations:
Name Country Retention eligible
Lauren Bell England No
Sophie Ecclestone England Yes (Sydney Sixers)
Heather Knight England Yes (Sydney Thunder)
Danni Wyatt-Hodge England Yes (Hobart Hurricanes)
Shikha Pandey India Yes (Brisbane Heat)
Jemimah Rodrigues India Yes (Brisbane Heat)
Fatima Sana Pakistan No
Shabnim Ismail South Africa Yes (Sydney Thunder)
Chloe Tryon South Africa Yes (Hobart Hurricanes)
Deandra Dottin West Inidies Yes (Melbourne Renegades)
With nominations now closed, more than 600 overseas players have put their names forward to be part of the WBBL and BBL seasons.
A nomination for the Draft indicates a player has not been pre-signed by any club.
Despite not being pre-signed, players eligible for retention may still be selected with their previous club’s retention pick in the Drafts.
These nominations follow the announcement of 14 pre-signed players to date across the clubs, with the remaining two to be announced soon.
Pre-signed overseas players:
Club BBL WBBL
Adelaide Strikers Jamie Overton Laura Wolvaardt
Brisbane Heat Colin Munro Nadine de Klerk
Hobart Hurricanes Chris Jordan TBC
Melbourne Renegades Tim Seifert Hayley Matthews
Melbourne Stars Tom Curran Marizanne Kapp
Perth Scorchers Finn Allen Sophie Devine
Sydney Sixers TBC Amelia Kerr
Sydney Thunder Sam Billings Chamari Athapaththu
Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia’s General Manager Big Bash Leagues, said:
“We are very excited by the nominations for the Big Bash Leagues drafts including some global superstars who will add enormous intrigue as the clubs compete for the best available talent.
“Having household names such as Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Heather Knight and Sophie Ecclestone nominate demonstrates the continuing appeal of the Big Bash Leagues to some of the world’s best players.
“Bringing the draft forward will provide more certainty for the clubs as they build their lists and give fans an early insight into the stars who will wear their team’s colours.
“We’re grateful to our partners Seven and Fox Sports who will ensure the draft is broadcast across multiple platforms keeping Big Bash fans engaged and entertained.
“We will have more exciting announcements in the weeks ahead as we reveal the full list of nominations and more pre-signed international players who will help light up the Big Bash Leagues this summer.”
June 10, 2025
Pakistan superstar Shaheen Afridi is among an impressive array of players available for the KFC BBL|15 and Weber WBBL|11 Overseas Player Draft on June 19 when the first lists of nominations were revealed today.
Afridi is certain to cause huge interest among BBL clubs with Brisbane Heat holding the number one pick and having the first chance to take the fast-bowling sensation.
Afridi’s fellow Pakistan stars Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan are other high-profile players who have put their names forward for selection for KFC BBL|15.
Former England captain Heather Knight and countrywomen Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Bell and Danni Wyatt-Hodge are up for grabs for Weber WBBL|11, while Pakistan captain Fatima Sana, a bowling all-rounder, is hoping to be drafted for the first time.
The Big Bash Draft Hub, exclusively available in the Big Bash App features player nominations with up-to-date availability and retention status for each player as well as the latest draft news and information. More player nominations and international pre-signings will be revealed in the lead-up to the Draft.
This season’s draft has been brought forward to June to provide club’s more certainty about player selection as they use the available recruiting mechanisms to build their lists for the season to come.
Nominations announced today for the BBL|15 and WBBL|11 Drafts are below:
KFC BBL|15 Draft first nominations:
Name Country Retention eligible
Sam Curran England No
Alex Hales England Yes (Sydney Thunder)
Lockie Ferguson New Zealand Yes (Sydney Thunder)
Tim Southee New Zealand No
Shaheen Afridi Pakistan No
Shadab Khan Pakistan No
Haris Rauf Pakistan Yes (Melbourne Stars)
Mohammad Rizwan Pakistan No
Kusal Perera Sri Lanka No
Shamar Joseph West Indies No
Weber WBBL|11 Draft first nominations:
Name Country Retention eligible
Lauren Bell England No
Sophie Ecclestone England Yes (Sydney Sixers)
Heather Knight England Yes (Sydney Thunder)
Danni Wyatt-Hodge England Yes (Hobart Hurricanes)
Shikha Pandey India Yes (Brisbane Heat)
Jemimah Rodrigues India Yes (Brisbane Heat)
Fatima Sana Pakistan No
Shabnim Ismail South Africa Yes (Sydney Thunder)
Chloe Tryon South Africa Yes (Hobart Hurricanes)
Deandra Dottin West Inidies Yes (Melbourne Renegades)
With nominations now closed, more than 600 overseas players have put their names forward to be part of the WBBL and BBL seasons.
A nomination for the Draft indicates a player has not been pre-signed by any club.
Despite not being pre-signed, players eligible for retention may still be selected with their previous club’s retention pick in the Drafts.
These nominations follow the announcement of 14 pre-signed players to date across the clubs, with the remaining two to be announced soon.
Pre-signed overseas players:
Club BBL WBBL
Adelaide Strikers Jamie Overton Laura Wolvaardt
Brisbane Heat Colin Munro Nadine de Klerk
Hobart Hurricanes Chris Jordan TBC
Melbourne Renegades Tim Seifert Hayley Matthews
Melbourne Stars Tom Curran Marizanne Kapp
Perth Scorchers Finn Allen Sophie Devine
Sydney Sixers TBC Amelia Kerr
Sydney Thunder Sam Billings Chamari Athapaththu
Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia’s General Manager Big Bash Leagues, said:
“We are very excited by the nominations for the Big Bash Leagues drafts including some global superstars who will add enormous intrigue as the clubs compete for the best available talent.
“Having household names such as Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Heather Knight and Sophie Ecclestone nominate demonstrates the continuing appeal of the Big Bash Leagues to some of the world’s best players.
“Bringing the draft forward will provide more certainty for the clubs as they build their lists and give fans an early insight into the stars who will wear their team’s colours.
“We’re grateful to our partners Seven and Fox Sports who will ensure the draft is broadcast across multiple platforms keeping Big Bash fans engaged and entertained.
“We will have more exciting announcements in the weeks ahead as we reveal the full list of nominations and more pre-signed international players who will help light up the Big Bash Leagues this summer.”
