Pakistan’s premier fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has made history by being the top overall pick in the Big Bash League (BBL) Season 15 draft.
Brisbane Heat secured his services in the platinum category, marking his much-anticipated debut in Australia’s flagship T20 tournament.
Afridi, 25, leads a record-setting Pakistani contingent in this year’s BBL, with seven players from the country landing contracts for the 2025–26 season — the highest number in a single edition, underscoring the surging demand for Pakistan’s T20 talent in international franchise cricket.
The player draft, hosted in Melbourne on June 18, saw six of the eight participating teams select Pakistani players.
Among the platinum category picks, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan was chosen by Melbourne Renegades, joining the league for the first time. Haris Rauf, who has been a staple for Melbourne Stars since 2019, was retained by the franchise and continues as their key pace option. Rauf has 36 wickets in 22 appearances at an economy rate of 7.75.
Babar Azam, widely regarded as Pakistan’s top batter, will also make his BBL debut after being pre-signed by the Sydney Sixers ahead of the draft. Meanwhile, all-rounder and T20 vice-captain Shadab Khan was picked in Round 2 by Sydney Thunder under the gold category. This move makes it his fourth BBL franchise, following stints with Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, and Sydney Sixers.
Adelaide Strikers welcomed Hasan Ali to their roster in Round 3, giving the veteran seamer his first opportunity in the Australian league. Hasan brings with him vast experience from T20 tournaments like the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Lanka Premier League (LPL), and Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
Also returning is Hassan Khan, a former Pakistan U19 all-rounder, who was re-selected by Melbourne Renegades after a brief appearance in the previous season.
Complete BBL 15 Draft Highlights:
Platinum Round:
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Brisbane Heat – Shaheen Afridi
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Adelaide Strikers – Luke Wood
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Melbourne Renegades – Mohammad Rizwan
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Perth Scorchers – Finn Allen
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Hobart Hurricanes – Chris Jordan
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Sydney Sixers – Sam Curran
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Melbourne Stars – Haris Rauf (retained)
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Sydney Thunder – Lockie Ferguson
Round 2:
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Brisbane Heat – Colin Munro
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Adelaide Strikers – Jamie Overton
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Melbourne Renegades – Hassan Khan
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Sydney Thunder – Shadab Khan
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Hobart Hurricanes – Rishad Hossain
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Sydney Sixers – Babar Azam (pre-signed)
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Melbourne Stars – Tom Curran
Round 3:
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Perth Scorchers – Laurie Evans
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Melbourne Stars – Joe Clarke
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Sydney Thunder – Sam Billings
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Melbourne Renegades – Tim Seifert
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Adelaide Strikers – Hasan Ali
Round 4:
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Brisbane Heat – Tom Alsop
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Perth Scorchers – David Payne
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Hobart Hurricanes – Rehan Ahmed
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Sydney Sixers – Jafer Chohan
With this influx of Pakistani players, the upcoming BBL season is poised to offer fans fresh rivalries and standout performances, strengthening not only the league’s competitive edge but also cricketing ties between Australia and Pakistan.
