KARACHI – June 5, 2025:
Four of Pakistan’s premier cricketers — Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, and Haris Rauf — have officially entered their names for the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 draft, scheduled to take place on June 19.
In a significant milestone for Pakistan women’s cricket, national team captain Fatima Sana has also registered for the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 11 draft, joining a pool of over 600 international players.
These Pakistani stars are part of an elite group of global cricket talent vying for a spot in Australia’s top-tier T20 franchise leagues. The BBL draft features names like West Indies’ Shamar Joseph, New Zealand’s Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee, England’s Sam Curran and Alex Hales, and Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera.
The WBBL draft list includes major international players such as England’s Heather Knight, Lauren Bell, Danni Wyatt, and Sophie Ecclestone; India’s Jemimah Rodrigues and Shikha Pandey; South Africa’s Shabnim Ismail and Chloe Tryon; and West Indies’ Deandra Dottin — alongside Fatima Sana, who continues to break ground for Pakistan on the international stage.
Global Appeal and Growing Prestige
BBL General Manager Alistair Dobson welcomed the participation of these world-class players, emphasizing the league’s growing global reach.
“We are very excited by the nominations for the Big Bash Leagues drafts, including some global superstars who will add enormous intrigue as the clubs compete for the best available talent,” said Dobson.
“Having household names such as Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Heather Knight and Sophie Ecclestone nominate demonstrates the continuing appeal of the Big Bash Leagues to some of the world’s best players.”
The complete list of registered players and their availability for the tournament will be released soon. The inclusion of these Pakistani stars is expected to significantly boost viewership and engagement from South Asian fans.
