Shaheen, Rizwan among Pakistan players picked in BBL 15 draft

Pakistan’s top T20 stars will be turning up the heat in Australia this summer, as Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, and several others were picked in the Big Bash League (BBL) Season 15 draft held on Thursday.

Leading the charge is Shaheen Afridi, who was snapped up by Brisbane Heat with the first overall Platinum pick.

The left-arm pacer, one of the most sought-after names in world cricket, is set to feature for the entire season and will join the BBL 2023–24 champions in a formidable pace attack that includes Spencer Johnson and Xavier Bartlett.

Mohammad Rizwan, who’s keen to reclaim his place in Pakistan’s T20I setup ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup, has been drafted by Melbourne Renegades with the fourth pick.

The Renegades already had New Zealand’s Tim Seifert in their ranks but went for Rizwan’s class and consistency.

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Haris Rauf, a regular in the BBL, was retained by Melbourne Stars, the franchise where he has become a fan favourite over the years with his pace and aggression.

Shadab Khan will return to the BBL circuit as well, having been drafted by the Sydney Thunder. Meanwhile, in-form pace bowler Hasan Ali found a new home in Australia, picked by the Adelaide Strikers to bolster their bowling attack.

Babar Azam, Pakistan’s premier batter, had already been announced as a pre-signed player by the Sydney Sixers ahead of the draft.

He will make his BBL debut this season and line up alongside the likes of Steve Smith, forming one of the most exciting top orders in the tournament.

It’s worth noting that Pakistan’s gap in the ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP) from November to February provides their top cricketers a window of opportunity to participate in the BBL 15.

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