Pakistan pace ace Shaheen Afridi is among a wave of international cricket talent nominated for the KFC BBL|15 and Weber WBBL|11 Drafts, with both events set to take place on 19 June. The Brisbane Heat, armed with the first pick in the BBL draft, will have the earliest shot at securing Afridi, whose inclusion has sparked considerable interest across clubs.
The announcement of the first list of nominations confirms the growing stature of the Big Bash Leagues, with more than 600 overseas players having lodged their availability for the upcoming summer seasons. The player pool includes a mix of T20 veterans, rising stars and returning crowd favourites.
Afridi is joined on the men’s side by fellow Pakistani teammates Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan, all of whom have featured in the tournament before and remain popular among fans. Other confirmed names include English all-rounder Sam Curran, big-hitting Alex Hales, New Zealand seamer Lockie Ferguson, West Indies quick Shamar Joseph, and Sri Lankan left-hander Kusal Perera.
On the women’s front, England’s former captain Heather Knight and world number one bowler Sophie Ecclestone return to the mix, alongside fast bowler Lauren Bell and top-order batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge. Pakistani captain Fatima Sana has nominated for the first time, bringing an all-round option that could appeal to several clubs building new combinations.
Cricket Australia’s General Manager for Big Bash Leagues, Alistair Dobson, said the calibre of players nominating for both the BBL and WBBL drafts reflects the competitions’ ongoing drawcard status. “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,” Dobson said.
The decision to bring the draft process forward to June is aimed at giving clubs more time to shape their squads and finalise international signings. The format remains unchanged with four rounds per draft and a salary band system (Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze) that determines when a player can be selected. Each club must make at least three selections including any pre-signed players and may pass on a round once.
Importantly, nomination does not equate to a guaranteed selection. Some players are eligible for retention, meaning clubs can re-sign them using their designated retention pick. Among those eligible for retention are Hales (Sydney Thunder), Rauf (Melbourne Stars), and Ecclestone (Sydney Sixers), among others.
There have already been 14 pre-signings announced across both leagues, with more expected to be revealed in the days ahead. These include high-impact names like England’s Tom Curran, West Indies star Hayley Matthews, New Zealand’s Finn Allen, and South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt. Each club is permitted to pre-sign international players under a set band, and those selections must be matched during the draft.
As for the order of picks, Brisbane Heat will lead off proceedings in the BBL Draft, followed by Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Renegades. In the WBBL Draft, the Sydney Sixers will have the first selection, with the Strikers and Stars rounding out the top three. The third round will follow a reverse order to give clubs further balance during the selection process.
The Drafts will be broadcast live on 7mate, 7plus Sport, Foxtel and Kayo Sports from 4pm AEST on 19 June. The Big Bash Draft Hub, available on the Big Bash App, will allow fans to track real-time nominations, availability, and player retention status as the lead-up continues.
As clubs weigh their options and balance budgets, the blend of tactical pre-signings and fresh draft nominations presents a compelling lead-in to the 2024–25 Big Bash summer. With heavyweights like Afridi and Ecclestone available, draft night could well shape the fortunes of clubs months before a ball is bowled.
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