There’s expected to be an influx of Pakistani cricket stars in the upcoming Big Bash League, with 74 players from the south Asian nation nominating for this year’s overseas player draft.
Because Pakistan has no international commitments from December to January at the end of the year, a cluster of the nation’s biggest names have thrown their hat in the ring for a BBL deal.
And if previous Big Bash drafts are anything to go by, the eight clubs will target players who are available for the entire tournament rather than those that will need to leave before the finals for other commitments.
Meanwhile, with the draft taking place nearly three months earlier than previous seasons, each of the BBL clubs still have big gaps in their roster, making it difficult to predict which players they will target.
Watch live coverage of the 2025 BBL & WBBL Draft on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer >
BRISBANE HEAT
Shadab Khan and Saim Ayub
Pre-signed player: Colin Munro
Having received the coveted No. 1 pick following April’s weighted lottery, the Heat will get first dibs at Thursday’s draft.
With the Heat losing leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson to the Melbourne Stars, the Brisbane-based franchise might be looking to add another tweaker to their roster – and Pakistan superstar Shadab Khan fits the bill.
The Heat have also signed young guns Hugh Weibgen and Lachlan Hearne to strengthen its batting stocks, but a specialist opener like Saim Ayun would give the club some fireworks at the top of the order.
England all-rounder Paul Walter, a fan favourite, may not get retained after his disappointing returns last summer, where he claimed four wickets at 44.00 with an economy of 9.26.
ADELAIDE STRIKERS
Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sam Curran
Pre-signed player: Jamie Overton
The Strikers need to add a death-bowling paceman to their squad, so the Adelaide-based franchise might have their eye on Pakistan quick Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Batters Travis Head, Chris Lynn and D’Arcy Short are each currently out of contract, while opener Jake Weatherald has signed for the Hobart Hurricanes, and with the potential of losing all-rounder Jamie Overton to international commitments following his unexpected Test call-up, having someone versatile like Sam Curran would give the Strikers some middle-order flexibility.
However, Curran is only available for 4-6 group-stage matches.
Elsewhere, Afghanistan superstar Rashid Khan has once again not nominated for the Big Bash draft, while Sri Lanka’s Niroshan Dickwella and Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan are available should the Strikers need a third wicketkeeper in their squad.
MELBOURNE RENEGADES
Dawid Malan and Liam Livingstone
Pre-signed player: Tim Seifert
Mackenzie Harvey and Jon Wells are out of contract, while English recruit Jacob Bethell has not nominated for this summer’s Big Bash, leaving the Renegades in desperate need of some middle-order batters.
The Melbourne-based franchise has previously shown interest in Liam Livingstone, who was chosen as the No. 1 pick in 2022 before withdrawing from the competition, while left-hander Dawid Malan could add some much-needed experience to the top of the order, where he would join the likes of Josh Brown and Jake Fraser-McGurk.
However, Livingstone’s recent form has been cause for concern, with the Englishman averaging 16.00 during the recent Indian Premier League, while Laurie Evans is unlikely to be retained following last summer’s forgettable BBL campaign.
PERTH SCORCHERS
Mohammad Rizwan and Reece Topley
Pre-signed player: Finn Allen
Scorchers wicketkeeper Josh Inglis is expected to be a part of Australia’s Ashes squad in the looming Test shake-up, leaving the Perth-based franchise in desperate need of a world-class gloveman and top-order batter of Mohammad Rizwan’s calibre.
Having lost veteran paceman Jason Behrendorff to the Melbourne Renegades, the Scorchers may replace him with another left-armed seamer such as Reece Topley, while fellow fast bowlers Lance Morris and Jhye Richardson could be needed during the Ashes.
If the Scorchers wanted an additional middle-order batter, they might consider bringing back Laurie Evans, who helped the club win a Big Bash title in 2022.
HOBART HURRICANES
Qais Ahmed and Zak Crawley
Pre-signed player: Chris Jordan
The Hurricanes are yet to re-sign spinners Paddy Dooley and Peter Hatzoglou, meaning the reigning champions might be targeting a tweaker in the draft, potentially Afghanistan’s Qais Ahmed or Waqar Salamkheil.
With opener Caleb Jewell traded to the Melbourne Renegades, the Hobart-based franchise could be tempted to strengthen its top order with Bazballer Zak Crawley, who won’t be available until after the Ashes. The Hurricanes would also consider Saim Ayub if he was still available in the draft.
SYDNEY SIXERS
Jafer Chohan and Naseem Shah
Pre-signed player: Babar Azam
The Sixers have already replaced the departing James Vince with a superstar batter in Pakistan’s Babar Azam, so the men in magenta may instead target bowlers in the draft.
Last summer, Sixers captain Moises Henriques hinted he wanted the Sydney-based club to re-sign mystery spinner Jafer Chohan, who impressed during his maiden BBL season, while Pakistan speedster Naseem Shah would form a damaging pace attack alongside Sean Abbott and Ben Dwarshuis.
New Zealand’s Lockie Ferguson and Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi would also be on the club’s radar.
MELBOURNE STARS
Haris Rauf and Joe Clarke
Pre-signed player: Tom Curran
Stars cult hero Haris Rauf, who made a name for himself in the Big Bash, has indicated he will be available for the entire season, opening the door for him to be retained by the Melbourne-based club and return to the MCG.
The Stars also need a top-order batter, with England’s Joe Clarke an option if the likes of Saim Ayub and Mohammad Rizwan were already snapped up by rival clubs.
Wicketkeeper Sam Harper is yet to re-sign for the Stars, who may be looking to target a wicketkeeper at Thursday’s draft if required.
SYDNEY THUNDER
Lockie Ferguson and Alex Hales
Pre-signed player: Sam Billings
With teenage opener Sam Konstas expected to be unavailable for a large chunk of the Big Bash due to Ashes commitments and Jason Sangha moving to Adelaide, the Thunder might need to find another top-order batter in the draft, opening the door for Alex Hales’ return.
Hales, who was ignored during last summer’s draft, is the club’s leading run-scorer in BBL history, but won’t be available for the entire tournament.
The Thunder have spoken highly of Lockie Ferguson since his maiden campaign last summer, and the men in lime green could use their retention pick on the New Zealand quick.
