Photo Credit: Twitter Profile Photo of @iamusamamir
The drafts for Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) and Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) have ended, with only one Pakistani player, Usama Mir, being selected.
Usama Mir, a leg-spinner, was chosen by the Melbourne Stars in the third round, making him the only Pakistani representative.
Despite 69 male and 11 female Pakistani cricketers being nominated, no women cricketers were selected in the drafts for the Big Bash League (BBL) and Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL).
Usama Mir, who played for the Melbourne Stars last year, will return to the team for the upcoming season. British cricketer Jafer Chohan, of Pakistani heritage, was chosen by the Sydney Sixers.
The BBL is scheduled to run from December 15, 2024, to January 27, 2025. The limited selection of Pakistani players is attributed to national team commitments and uncertainties regarding No Objection Certificates (NOCs), with league organizers favoring overseas players who can commit to the entire season without NOC issues.
English players were highly sought after, with 14 being selected across the four rounds. In the first round, four England players and three New Zealand players were picked. Ben Duckett, the England opener, was the first pick, chosen by the Melbourne Stars. James Vince, the second pick, was retained by the Sydney Sixers. Laurie Evans joined the Melbourne Renegades, while Lockie Ferguson was picked by Sydney Thunder. Shai Hope reunited with Ricky Ponting at the Hobart Hurricanes, and Jamie Overton was selected by the Adelaide Strikers. Brisbane Heat and Perth Scorchers retained their pre-signed players, Colin Munro and Finn Allen, respectively.
In the second round, the Melbourne Stars selected Tom Curran, and the Melbourne Renegades picked the young England all-rounder Jacob Bethell. Ollie Pope (Adelaide Strikers), Chris Jordan (Hobart Hurricanes), and Sam Billings (Sydney Thunder) were also chosen. Perth Scorchers passed this round, while Sydney Sixers secured their pre-signed player, Akeal Hosein.
For the third round, Sydney Sixers and Perth Scorchers both passed. Adelaide Strikers picked West Indian Fabian Allen, while Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Thunder opted for Sherfane Rutherford and Tim Seifert, respectively. The Melbourne Stars selected Usama Mir.
In the fourth round, Melbourne Stars, Melbourne Renegades, and Sydney Thunder passed. Hobart Hurricanes picked Bangladesh leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, Adelaide Strikers passed, Brisbane Heat chose Tom Alsop, and Perth Scorchers signed Keaton Jennings. The final pick of the draft was Jafer Chohan, selected by Sydney Sixers.
