Big Bash League’s (BBL) overseas draft saw English and Pakistani players making headlines, with as many as seven Pakistanis and ten English cricketers getting picked. Each team had to pick at least three overseas players, making 24 in total for the eight teams in the league.
The draft began with Brisbane Heat using their first pick to rope in Shaheen Shah Afridi, who just recently led Lahore Qalandars to their third PSL trophy. Picking Afridi was almost a no-brainer after he confirmed his availability for the entire season. He took eight wickets in Pakistan’s recent ODI series down under, playing a key role in helping his side defeat Australia in a bilateral for the first time since 2002. He was also the joint fourth-highest wicket-taker in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, which makes him a perfect matchup to wreak havoc on Australian pitches.
Afridi now joins Brisbane’s brilliant pace attack, which includes the likes of Spencer Johnson, Xavier Bartlett, and Michael Neser. Besides Shaheen, Heat went with two of their last season players, Colin Munro, who was snapped up pre-draft, and English wicket-keeper batter, Tom Alsop.
“He loves bowling in fast, bouncy conditions and the Gabba’s exactly that,” Heat captain Nathan McSweeney said.“Pakistan had some great success last time they were out here against Australia so we’re looking for more of the same from him. Thankfully, he’s on our side, I’m not going to have to face him this year.”
Trying to match Brisbane Heat’s incisive pace-attack, Adelaide Strikers bought Hasan Ali and Luke Wood to link up with the pre-draft retained Jamie Overton, who returns to the side for the third year running. Despite missing out on getting Haris Rauf, the Strikers have built themselves a decent pace battery.
Melbourne Stars retained their man Rauf, who has played four BBL seasons with them, with their first pick. For the remaining two picks, they got Tom Curran, who they signed ahead of the draft, and Joe Clarke, who, like Rauf, is a Stars veteran.
Of all Pakistani players picked up in the draft, Babar Azam was the only one to be pre-signed. Sydney Sixers bagged the right-handed batter and had to use one of their picks to secure the deal, similar to what all the franchises did for their pre-draft picks. Having Babar already in their kitty, the Sixers picked Sam Curran, who will be making his BBL debut, with their first pick. Both players joined England leggie Jafer Chohan, who represented the Sixers last season.
Another Pakistan bowler, Shadab Khan, who has represented as many as four BBL teams, was picked by Sydney Thunder after they used pick No. 8 to lock in Lockie Ferguson. Thunder used their last pick to get their pre-signed player, Sam Billings, on board. Billings signed a three-year contract with Sydney ahead of the last edition, and this will be his second year representing them in the league.
Melbourne Renegades went overboard with bagging wicket-keeper batters. While they had already signed Tim Seifert before the draft began, Renegades roped in Pakistan wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan with their first pick. They finished their foreign picks with Pakistan bowler Hassan Khan, who played one game for the Renegades last edition.
Perth Scorchers and Hobart Hurricanes were the only teams to go without a Pakistan cricketer. Laurie Evans and David Payne, who were part of Perth Scorchers’ victory run in the twelfth edition of the league, have been selected by Scorchers again this season. The franchise failed to retain the pair in the last edition. Finn Allen is their third overseas player, who was signed before the draft and was pick No. 5 of draft day.
Hurricanes filled their roster with spinners after picking their pre-draft player, Chris Jordan, a crucial part of their victory campaign last year. Spinners Rishad Hossain, who failed to play for Hurricanes after being denied a No Objection Certificate (NOC), and Rehan Ahmed will be making their BBL debut with the Hurricanes.
International selections for BBL15:
Brisbane Heat: Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan), Tom Alsop (England), Colin Munro (New Zealand)
Melbourne Stars: Joe Clarke (England), Tom Curran (England), Haris Rauf (Pakistan)
Adelaide Strikers: Hasan Ali (Pakistan), Jamie Overton (England), Luke Wood (England)
Melbourne Renegades: Hassan Khan (Pakistan), Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan), Tim Seifert (New Zealand)
Perth Scorchers: Finn Allen (New Zealand), Laurie Evans (England), David Payne (England)
Hobart Hurricanes: Rehan Ahmed (England), Rishad Hossain (Bangladesh), Chris Jordan (England)
Sydney Sixers: Babar Azam (Pakistan), Jafer Chohan (England), Sam Curran (England)
Sydney Thunder: Sam Billings (England), Lockie Ferguson (New Zealand), Shadab Khan (Pakistan)
