Shaheen Shah Afridi has made history by becoming the first overall pick in the Big Bash League (BBL) Season 15 Draft, with Brisbane Heat selecting the left-arm pace spearhead in the platinum category. The selection marks Afridi’s debut in Australia’s top-tier T20 competition.
Afridi, 25, leads a record contingent of seven Pakistani cricketers who will feature in the 2025–26 BBL season — the highest representation from Pakistan in a single edition of the tournament. The surge reflects the increasing value of Pakistan’s T20 talent on the global franchise circuit.
The BBL 15 Draft, held on June 18 in Melbourne, saw six of the eight franchises acquire Pakistani players.
Mohammad Rizwan was picked by Melbourne Renegades as a platinum selection in the first round, also marking his maiden appearance in the BBL. Fellow pacer Haris Rauf was retained by Melbourne Stars, continuing his association with the franchise where he has taken 36 wickets in 22 matches at an economy of 7.75 since his 2019 debut.
Star batter Babar Azam was pre-signed by Sydney Sixers ahead of the draft and is also set to debut in the league. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s T20 vice-captain Shadab Khan was snapped up by Sydney Thunder in Round 2 under the gold category. This will be his fourth BBL team, having previously played for Brisbane Heat, Sydney Sixers, and Hobart Hurricanes.
Veteran pacer Hasan Ali will join the Adelaide Strikers for his first BBL stint, bringing experience from multiple global leagues including the CPL, LPL, and BPL. All-rounder Hassan Khan, a former Pakistan U19 captain, was once again picked by Melbourne Renegades in Round 2 after featuring in a single game last season.
BBL 15 Draft Summary – Key Picks
Round 1 – Platinum Picks:
- Brisbane Heat: Shaheen Afridi
- Adelaide Strikers: Luke Wood
- Melbourne Renegades: Mohammad Rizwan
- Perth Scorchers: Finn Allen
- Hobart Hurricanes: Chris Jordan
- Sydney Sixers: Sam Curran
- Melbourne Stars: Haris Rauf (retained)
- Sydney Thunder: Lockie Ferguson
Round 2:
- Brisbane Heat: Colin Munro
- Adelaide Strikers: Jamie Overton
- Melbourne Renegades: Hassan Khan
- Sydney Thunder: Shadab Khan
- Hobart Hurricanes: Rishad Hossain
- Sydney Sixers: Babar Azam (pre-signed)
- Melbourne Stars: Tom Curran
Round 3:
- Perth Scorchers: Laurie Evans
- Melbourne Stars: Joe Clarke
- Sydney Thunder: Sam Billings
- Melbourne Renegades: Tim Seifert
- Adelaide Strikers: Hasan Ali
Round 4:
- Brisbane Heat: Tom Alsop
- Perth Scorchers: David Payne
- Hobart Hurricanes: Rehan Ahmed
- Sydney Sixers: Jafer Chohan
The inclusion of seven Pakistani players not only strengthens BBL 15’s global appeal but also reflects deepening cricketing ties between Australia and Pakistan. Fans can look forward to high-octane matchups and exciting performances in what promises to be a thrilling summer of cricket Down Under.
