Babar Pre-Signing Debut, Rauf & Munro Retained, Finn Allen Among Big Names in BBL Draft 2025
Draft Date & Time
The combined WBBL and BBL drafts took place on Thursday, 19 June. The WBBL draft began at 4 pm AEST, immediately followed by the BBL draft.
Draft Order & Format
A weighted lottery held in April, based on 2024–25 season finishes, determined the draft order.
- WBBL Round 1:
Sydney Sixers, Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Stars, Perth Scorchers, Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Thunder, Melbourne Renegades, Brisbane Heat.
- BBL Round 1:
Brisbane Heat, Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Renegades, Perth Scorchers, Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Sixers, Melbourne Stars, Sydney Thunder.
BBL Draft 2025 Rules and Conditions for Player Picks
Teams swapped picks in the BBL: Sydney Thunder and Perth Scorchers exchanged second- and third-round selections.
Each club could pre-sign one overseas player on multi-year deals before the draft. These must be slotted into a specific round based on contract category (Platinum, Gold, etc.). Other details:
Teams must draft at least two overseas players beyond their pre-signings; they may pass once.
Clubs could retain one player from last season — typically a returning player or someone previously signed but unused.
During the draft, teams could select a fourth overseas “replacement” mid-draft or later, but only three overseas players can feature in the XI.
Pre‑Signed Overseas Players & Retentions List
WBBL & BBL Draft 2025
- Adelaide Strikers: Laura Wolvaardt, Jamie Overton
- Brisbane Heat: Nadine de Klerk, Colin Munro
- Hobart Hurricanes: TBC, Chris Jordan
- Melbourne Renegades: Hayley Matthews (ruled out due to shoulder surgery), Tim Seifert
- Melbourne Stars: Marizanne Kapp, Tom Curran
- Perth Scorchers: Sophie Devine, Finn Allen
- Sydney Sixers: Amelia Kerr, Babar Azam
- Sydney Thunder: Chamari Athapaththu, Sam Billings
Overseas Nominees Highlights
BBL Draft 2025 included nominations from:
- Pakistan: Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Rizwan
- England: Jofra Archer, James Anderson, Zak Crawley, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Jason Roy, Reece Topley
- New Zealand: Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee, Kane Williamson (limited games)
- Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera
- West Indies: Shamar Joseph
- Bangladesh: Mustafizur Rahman
WBBL saw Indian stars Shikha Pandey, Yastika Bhatia, Jemimah Rodrigues; West Indies’ Deandra Dottin; Pakistan’s Fatima Sana; England’s top picks like Sophie Ecclestone, Sophia Dunkley; plus South Africa’s Shabnim Ismail, Chloe Tryon.
Over 600 overseas players registered interest across both drafts.
Salary Bands (AUD)
WBBL
- Platinum: $110,000
- Gold: $90,000
- Silver: $65,000
- Bronze: up to $40,000
BBL
- Platinum: $360,000–420,000
- Gold: $300,000
- Silver: $200,000
- Bronze: up to $100,000
Key Draft Picks & Squads
BBL Draft 2025 Highlights
Round 1 Picks (Platinum):
- Shaheen Afridi – Brisbane Heat
- Haris Rauf – Melbourne Stars (retained)
- Luke Wood – Adelaide Strikers
- Mohammad Rizwan – Melbourne Renegades
- Finn Allen – Perth Scorchers (pre-signed)
- Chris Jordan – Hobart Hurricanes (pre-signed)
- Sam Curran – Sydney Sixers
- Lockie Ferguson – Sydney Thunder
Round 2 (Platinum / Gold):
- Brisbane Heat: Colin Munro (pre-signed)
- Adelaide Strikers: Jamie Overton (pre-signed)
- Melbourne Renegades: Hassan Khan (Gold)
- Sydney Thunder: Shadab Khan (Gold)
- Hobart Hurricanes: Rishad Hossain (Gold)
- Sydney Sixers: Babar Azam (pre-signed)
- Melbourne Stars: Tom Curran (pre-signed)
- Perth Scorchers: Passed
Rounds 3–4 (Gold, Silver, Bronze):
- Gold: Sam Billings, Tim Seifert, Hassan Ali
- Silver: Laurie Evans, Joe Clarke
- Bronze: Tom Alsop, David Payne, Rehan Ahmed, Jafer Chohan
BBL Squad Rosters:
Every team filled out their squads with a mix of domestic and drafted overseas players. For example, Brisbane Heat includes Afridi, Munro, Also Sydney Sixers have Curran, Azam, Chohan; teams like Renegades, Scorchers, Stars, Thunder, etc., also secured a blend of quirky, high‑profile, and support talent.
WBBL Draft Snippets
- Sixers claimed Sophia Dunkley with the No. 1 pick.
- Strikers took top spinner Sophie Ecclestone.
- Renegades replaced injured Hayley Matthews mid-draft.
- Hurricanes pre-signed England’s Nat Sciver Brunt.
Season Timelines & Availability
- WBBL runs from late October to early December.
- BBL runs from mid-December to late January; schedule expected in July.
- The WBBL timing avoids overlap with the Women’s ODI World Cup.
- BBL faces clashes with ILT20 (2 Dec–4 Jan) and SA20 (26 Dec–26 Jan) but Cricket Australia is optimistic—international availability and player commitments suggest improved participation levels, especially in later stages and finals.
Summary & Insight
The BBL draft 2025 showcased a strong overseas presence—most notably seven Pakistanis (headed by Afridi, Rauf, Rizwan, Babar) and many British/New Zealand stars. The salary scale emphasizes big investment in talent, with Platinum prices hitting $420k. Strategic pre-signings, retentions, and draft trades showed clubs’ focus on consistent availability and strong squads ahead of scheduling challenges.
The coordinating of WBBL and BBL draft 2025 earlier in the year gives teams clarity and structure. With both leagues now locked in well before the season, clubs can plan rosters and logistics confidently. For fans, that means clear expectations and strong competition driven by a deeper pool of talent.
Conclusion
The BBL Draft 2025 has once again proven to be a major event in the global T20 calendar, attracting top talent from around the world. With smart pre-signings, retention picks, and a balanced draft strategy, all eight franchises have built strong squads for the upcoming season. Pakistani stars made a big impact, while English, New Zealand, and other international players added depth and excitement. As we head toward another thrilling summer of cricket, fans can look forward to high-quality matches, star performances, and plenty of action, all thanks to the well-planned and competitive BBL Draft 2025.
Babar Azam is making his debut in BBL 2025. Click the link below to learn more:
For more information, stay tuned.
