Shaheen goes first as Big Bash draft stirs the summer

By Our Reporter
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Shaheen Shah Afridi will be pulling on Brisbane Heat colours this summer after being picked first in the KFC BBL|15 Draft. The towering left-arm quick leads a strong Pakistani contingent into the league, with six others from his national side, including Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, also set for the season ahead.

Shaheen’s new-ball pace made him an obvious top choice, but it didn’t take long for the heat to rise in the draft. Melbourne Stars used a retention pick to hold onto Haris Rauf, forcing Adelaide Strikers to pivot and settle on England’s Luke Wood with their first selection.

Mohammad Rizwan will head to the Melbourne Renegades, joining a batting unit in need of consistency at the top. Finn Allen and Chris Jordan were taken as expected, following earlier pre-signings by Perth Scorchers and Hobart Hurricanes respectively.

The Sydney Sixers opted for England all-rounder Sam Curran while Sydney Thunder went for Lockie Ferguson, rounding out a pace-heavy top round.

Babar Azam, one of the biggest names in world cricket, was locked in earlier by the Sixers through a pre-signing arrangement, while other established names like Tom Curran and Sam Billings returned to familiar clubs. Shadab Khan joins the Thunder, adding all-round strength and sharp leg spin, and Laurie Evans and Joe Clarke will bring experience to the Scorchers and Stars line-ups.

Cricket Australia confirmed that 47 international players were snapped up across both the BBL and WBBL drafts, which were streamed live and watched closely by fans across Australia and overseas. While some clubs chose to pass in later rounds, others filled their quota with strategic picks across all tiers—from platinum to bronze.

The Weber WBBL|11 Draft started with Sophia Dunkley going to the Sydney Sixers. Sophie Ecclestone followed to the Adelaide Strikers before a run of retention picks saw clubs block rivals from pinching fan favourites. Jemimah Rodrigues (Heat), Danni Wyatt-Hodge (Hurricanes), Heather Knight (Thunder), and Deandra Dottin (Renegades) all returned to their previous sides despite interest elsewhere.

Pre-signed players like Amelia Kerr, Laura Wolvaardt, and Marizanne Kapp have already added firepower to their respective squads, while Amy Jones and Sophie Devine were among the first officially drafted on the night.

Alice Capsey, Shabnim Ismail, Chamari Athapaththu, and Nat Sciver-Brunt are among the other big names set to make appearances, with some moving to new clubs and others returning for another shot.

Alistair Dobson, Executive General Manager of the Big Bash Leagues, said the event delivered on its promise of excitement and competition. “There were bold plays, returns of popular players, and fresh faces making their way into Aussie club cricket. The draft is now firmly part of the Big Bash story.”

For all the movement and strategy, what remains is the anticipation. With names like Shaheen, Rizwan, and Sophie Ecclestone heading Down Under, this Big Bash season is shaping up to offer both quality and unpredictability—just as fans like it.

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. Finn Allen (Perth Scorchers, Platinum, Pre-Signed Player)
    6. Chris Jordan (Hobart Hurricanes, Platinum, Pre-Signed Player)
    7. Sam Curran (Sydney Sixers, Platinum)
    8. Lockie Ferguson (Sydney Thunder, Platinum)
    9. Colin Munro (Brisbane Heat, Platinum, Pre-Signed Player)
    10. Jamie Overton (Adelaide Strikers, Platinum, Pre-Signed Player)
    11. Hassan Khan (Melbourne Renegades, Gold)
    12. Shadab Khan (Sydney Thunder, Gold)
    13. Rishad Hossain (Hobart Hurricanes, Gold)
    14. Babar Azam (Sydney Sixers, Platinum, Pre-Signed Player)
    15. Tom Curran (Melbourne Stars, Platinum, Pre-Signed Player)
    16. Passed (Perth Scorchers)
    17. Laurie Evans (Perth Scorchers, Silver)
    18. Joe Clarke (Melbourne Stars, Silver)
    19. Passed (Sydney Sixers)
    20. Passed (Hobart Hurricanes)
    21. Sam Billings (Sydney Thunder, Gold, Pre-Signed Player)
    22. Tim Seifert (Melbourne Renegades, Gold, Pre-Signed Player)
    23. Hassan Ali (Adelaide Strikers, Gold)
    24. Passed (Brisbane Heat)
    25. Tom Alsop (Brisbane Heat, Bronze)
    26. Passed (Adelaide Strikers)
    27. Passed (Melbourne Renegades)
    28. David Payne (Perth Scorchers, Bronze)
    29. Rehan Ahmed (Hobart Hurricanes, Bronze)
    30. Jafer Chohan (Sydney Sixers, Bronze)
    31. Passed (Melbourne Stars)
    32. Passed (Sydney Thunder)

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)
    6. Heather Knight (Sydney Thunder, Platinum, Retention)
    7. Deandra Dottin (Melbourne Renegades, Platinum, Retention)
    8. Sophie Devine (Perth Scorchers, Platinum, Pre-Signing)
    9. Amelia Kerr (Sydney Sixers, Platinum, Pre-Signing)
    10. Laura Wolvaardt (Adelaide Strikers, Gold, Pre-Signing)
    11. Marizanne Kapp (Melbourne Stars, Platinum, Pre-Signing)
    12. Paige Schofield (Perth Scorchers, Gold)
    13. Nat Sciver-Brunt (Hobart Hurricanes, Platinum, Pre-Signing)
    14. Chamari Athapaththu (Sydney Thunder, Platinum, Pre-Signing)
    15. Alice Capsey (Melbourne Renegades, Gold)
    16. Passed (Brisbane Heat)
    17. Chinelle Henry (Brisbane Heat, Silver)
    18. Passed (Melbourne Renegades)
    19. Shabnim Ismail (Sydney Thunder, Gold)
    20. Linsey Smith (Hobart Hurricanes, Silver)
    21. Chloe Tryon (Perth Scorchers, Silver)
    22. Dani Gibson (Melbourne Stars, Gold)
    23. Passed (Adelaide Strikers)
    24. Passed (Sydney Sixers)
    25. Mady Villiers (Sydney Sixers, Bronze)
    26. Tammy Beaumont (Adelaide Strikers, Bronze)
    27. Passed (Melbourne Stars)
    28. Passed (Perth Scorchers)
    29. Passed (Hobart Hurricanes)
    30. Passed (Sydney Thunder)
    31. Passed (Melbourne Renegades)
    32. Nadine de Klerk (Brisbane Heat, Bronze)
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