Pakistan fast-bowling sensation Shaheen Afridi headlines the first group of overseas players nominated for the KFC BBL|15 and Weber WBBL|11 Overseas Player Draft, set for June 19, as Major League T20 cricket continues to attract global stars.
Joining Afridi in the BBL draft pool are fellow Pakistan standouts Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf, and Shadab Khan, forming one of the most high-profile cohorts in the competition’s history. With Brisbane Heat holding the number one pick in the draft, the race to sign Afridi could become one of the most talked-about stories of the offseason.
Top international stars headline Big Bash nominations
The BBL|15 nominations also include high-caliber names like:
- Sam Curran (England)
- Alex Hales (England) – Retention eligible by Sydney Thunder
- Lockie Ferguson (New Zealand) – Retention eligible by Sydney Thunder
- Tim Southee (New Zealand)
- Kusal Perera (Sri Lanka)
- Shamar Joseph (West Indies)
WBBL draft features England core, India and Pakistan stars
The WBBL|11 draft nominations are equally star-studded, featuring several top-ranked players and new entrants:
- Heather Knight (England) – Retention eligible by Sydney Thunder
- Sophie Ecclestone (England) – Retention eligible by Sydney Sixers
- Lauren Bell (England)
- Danni Wyatt-Hodge (England) – Retention eligible by Hobart Hurricanes
- Shikha Pandey & Jemimah Rodrigues (India) – Both eligible for Brisbane Heat retention
- Fatima Sana (Pakistan) – Draft debut
- Shabnim Ismail & Chloe Tryon (South Africa)
- Deandra Dottin (West Indies) – Retention eligible by Melbourne Renegades
More than 600 overseas players have nominated for this year’s drafts, reflecting the global draw of the Big Bash Leagues. Players who have not been pre-signed by any team will be available for selection across four salary bands—Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze.
Pre-signed international players and how the draft works
Fourteen players have already been pre-signed across BBL and WBBL teams, including:
| 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 |
The drafts will be broadcast on June 19 at 4pm AEST across 7mate, 7plus Sport, Foxtel and Kayo Sports. Each club will make one pick per round across four rounds, with teams required to use a minimum of three picks, including pre-signed players.
Draft orders revealed for both competitions
KFC BBL|15 Draft Order:
- Brisbane Heat
- Adelaide Strikers
- Melbourne Renegades
- Perth Scorchers
- Hobart Hurricanes
- Sydney Sixers
- Melbourne Stars
- Sydney Thunder
Weber WBBL|11 Draft Order:
- Sydney Sixers
- Adelaide Strikers
- Melbourne Stars
- Perth Scorchers
- Hobart Hurricanes
- Sydney Thunder
- Melbourne Renegades
- Brisbane Heat
Cricket Australia’s Alistair Dobson summed up the significance of the draft by saying:
“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.”
With excitement building and names still to be announced, this year’s drafts are shaping up to deliver some of the most competitive Big Bash seasons yet.
