The Big Bash League (BBL) 2025-26 Draft held in Melbourne saw a flurry of top-tier international signings, with almost two dozen overseas players picked by the eight franchises.

Pakistan stars dominate BBL 2025-26 draft

A notable highlight of the evening was the high demand for Pakistan cricketers, with Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan and Hasan Ali all earning lucrative contracts. The Pakistan contingent was immensely sought-after, largely because of their declared full availability for the entire BBL season, an increasingly critical factor for franchises.

Shaheen was snapped up as a Platinum pick by Brisbane Heat, while Mohammad Rizwan joined the Melbourne Renegades as their No.1 pick. Haris Rauf was retained by the Melbourne Stars for a fifth consecutive season, underscoring his value and continuity with the franchise. Shadab Khan was signed by Sydney Thunder in the Gold round, alongside Sam Billings, while Hasan Ali joined the Adelaide Strikers. Meanwhile, the Hobart Hurricanes, the defending champions, locked in England’s Chris Jordan as their No.1 pick and followed up by picking Bangladesh’s Rishad Hossain (Gold) and Rehan Ahmed (Bronze). Rishad remains the only Bangladesh cricketer selected in the entire draft.

Surprise selections and high-profile omissions in the Big Bash League draft

The BBL Draft for Season 15 wasn’t without surprises. One of the most talked-about moves was the Renegades’ selection of uncapped USA spinner Hassan Khan, a Pakistan-born cricketer who featured in the U-19 World Cup 2016. This bold decision came in the second round, as the Renegades looked to diversify their spin resources.

Despite a star-studded list of nominees, several high-profile players were overlooked, including Jofra Archer, James Anderson, Liam Livingstone, Zak Crawley, Dawid Malan, Jason Roy and Reece Topley from England. Other notable omissions were Kane Williamson, Tim Southee (New Zealand), Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh), and Shamar Joseph (West Indies).

The prevailing reason for their absence from the final picks was the uncertainty around player availability. Teams opted for cricketers who could commit for the entire BBL campaign, prioritizing squad consistency over star power. Other notable signings included Lockie Ferguson by Sydney Thunder and Finn Allen by Perth Scorchers, both in the Platinum category.

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Overseas players selected in the BBL|15 Draft and their respective teams:

• Brisbane Heat: Shaheen Afridi (Platinum)
• Adelaide Strikers: Luke Wood (Platinum)
• Melbourne Renegades: Mohammad Rizwan (Platinum)
• Sydney Sixers: Sam Curran (Platinum)
• Sydney Thunder: Lockie Ferguson (Platinum)
• Melbourne Renegades: Hassan Khan (Gold)
• Sydney Thunder: Shadab Khan (Gold)
• Perth Scorchers: Laurie Evans (Silver)
• Melbourne Stars: Joe Clarke (Silver)
• Adelaide Strikers: Hasan Ali (Gold)
• Brisbane Heat: Tom Alsop (Bronze)
• Perth Scorchers: David Payne (Bronze)
• Hobart Hurricanes: Rehan Ahmed (Bronze)
• Sydney Sixers: Jafer Chohan (Bronze)

Pre-signed overseas players for BBL 2025-26

• Adelaide Strikers: Jamie Overton
• Brisbane Heat: Colin Munro
• Hobart Hurricanes: Chris Jordan, Rishad Hossain
• Melbourne Renegades: Tim Seifert
• Melbourne Stars: Tom Curran
• Perth Scorchers: Finn Allen
• Sydney Sixers: Babar Azam
• Sydney Thunder: Sam Billings

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