Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sophia Dunkley will be among the marquee names lighting up the KFC BBL|15 and Weber WBBL|11 seasons after being selected with the first picks in their respective overseas drafts, signaling a major international shakeup across both competitions.
BBL|15 Draft: Pakistan pace power leads the way
The Brisbane Heat made a powerful statement by selecting Shaheen Shah Afridi as the first overall pick in the BBL|15 Draft. The left-arm fast bowler headlines a strong Pakistani contingent, which includes Babar Azam (Sydney Sixers, pre-signed) and Mohammad Rizwan (Melbourne Renegades), among six Pakistani internationals chosen across the draft.
The Melbourne Stars exercised a Retention Pick to keep Haris Rauf, fending off the Adelaide Strikers who then chose Luke Wood at Pick 3. The Sydney franchises landed key all-format stars, with Sam Curran joining the Sixers and Lockie Ferguson heading to the Thunder.
WBBL|11 Draft: Retention Picks dominate early moves
On the women’s side, Sophia Dunkley was snapped up by the Sydney Sixers with the top pick, followed by Sophie Ecclestone heading to the Adelaide Strikers. But it was the use of Retention Picks that shook up the first round. Stars like Jemimah Rodrigues (Brisbane Heat), Danni Wyatt-Hodge (Hobart Hurricanes), Heather Knight (Sydney Thunder), and Deandra Dottin (Melbourne Renegades) will all return to familiar surroundings.
Amy Jones and Sophie Devine were among the first names taken in a draft that saw 47 international players allocated across both leagues, including 15 pre-signed players and five Retention Picks.
Alistair Dobson: “Huge new names, fan favourites, and big moves”
Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia’s Executive General Manager of the Big Bash Leagues, praised the dynamic draft outcomes: “Today’s Drafts brought plenty of action with some huge new names joining the competition, fan favourites returning to Clubs, and big moves with a number of players set to call a new Club home for the season ahead.”
Top Picks — KFC BBL|15 Draft
- 1. Shaheen Shah Afridi (Brisbane Heat, Platinum)
- 2. Haris Rauf (Melbourne Stars, Platinum, Retention)
- 3. Luke Wood (Adelaide Strikers, Platinum)
- 4. Mohammad Rizwan (Melbourne Renegades, Platinum)
- 5. Sam Curran (Sydney Sixers, Platinum)
- 6. Lockie Ferguson (Sydney Thunder, Platinum)
Top Picks — Weber WBBL|11 Draft
- 1. Sophia Dunkley (Sydney Sixers, Platinum)
- 2. Sophie Ecclestone (Adelaide Strikers, Platinum)
- 3. Jemimah Rodrigues (Brisbane Heat, Platinum, Retention)
- 4. Danni Wyatt-Hodge (Hobart Hurricanes, Platinum, Retention)
- 5. Amy Jones (Melbourne Stars, Platinum)
With major stars now confirmed, both the BBL|15 and WBBL|11 seasons promise global flair, high-impact cricket, and fierce competition across Australia this summer.
