What Is the BBL Draft?
The Big Bash League (BBL) Draft is an annual event. It allows teams to sign international players. The system is fair and structured. It replaced the older direct signing model.
The BBL Draft began in 2022–23. It uses a four-round format. Teams pick players in set orders. Overseas stars are placed in salary bands. A retention option exists for returning players. This ensures continuity and excitement.
Draft Date & Format (2025–26 Season)
The 2025–26 BBL Draft happened on June 19, 2025. It was held in Melbourne. This was the earliest draft yet. It followed the WBBL 11 Draft on the same day.
Moving it to June helped planning. It allowed clubs to prepare early. It also helped attract more players. Stars could commit before joining other leagues. The BBL clashed with leagues like ILT20 and SA20 in past seasons.
Draft Mechanics
The draft began with a weighted lottery. Lower-ranked teams had better odds. The first two rounds followed the lottery order. Rounds 3 and 4 reversed the order.
There are four salary bands:
- Platinum ($360K–$420K)
- Gold (~$300K)
- Silver (~$200K)
- Bronze (≤$100K)
Teams could use a retention pick. This allowed them to keep one overseas player. That player must have played last season. Mostly the teams retained the top batters of BBL 2024-25. The retention slot must match their salary band.
Teams had to pick at least two players. A maximum of three could be picked. They could pass in later rounds. However, full squads must be complete later.
2025–26 Draft Highlights
Major Nominees & Pre‑signings
This year’s draft saw over 600 players nominate. Around 440 made the final draft pool. Players came from over 30 countries. There were many high-profile names.
Top Platinum picks included:
- Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
- Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
- Haris Rauf (Pakistan)
- Shadab Khan (Pakistan)
- Sam Curran (England)
- Alex Hales (England)
- Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson (New Zealand)
- Kusal Perera (Sri Lanka)
Teams could pre-sign one international player. These deals happened before draft day. Some big pre-signees included:
- Finn Allen – Perth Scorchers
- Tom Curran – Melbourne Stars
- Colin Munro – Brisbane Heat
- Babar Azam – Sydney Sixers
- Chris Jordan – Hobart Hurricanes
- Sam Billings, Tim Seifert, Jamie Overton also featured
Draft Day – Men’s BBL Picks
Here are the top picks from the draft:
| Team | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 |
| Brisbane Heat | Shaheen Afridi (Pak) | Colin Munro (pre-signed) | — | Tom Alsop |
| Adelaide Strikers | Luke Wood (Eng) | Jamie Overton (pre-signed) | Hasan Ali (Pak) | — |
| Melbourne Renegades | Mohammad Rizwan (Pak) | Hassan Khan (Pak) | Tim Seifert (pre-signed) | — |
| Melbourne Stars | Haris Rauf (retained, Pak) | Tom Curran (pre-signed) | Joe Clarke (Eng) | — |
| Perth Scorchers | Finn Allen (pre-signed) | — | Laurie Evans (Eng) | David Payne (Eng) |
| Sydney Sixers | Sam Curran (Eng) | Babar Azam (pre-signed) | — | Jafer Chohan |
| Hobart Hurricanes | Chris Jordan (pre-signed) | Rishad Hossain (Ban) | — | Rehan Ahmed (Eng) |
| Sydney Thunder | Lockie Ferguson (NZ) | Shadab Khan (Pak) | Sam Billings (pre-signed) | — |
Shaheen Afridi was the first overall pick. He went to Brisbane Heat. Mohammad Rizwan and Haris Rauf also joined strong squads. Shadab Khan was selected by Sydney Thunder. Many teams retained familiar faces.
At least eight Pakistani players were picked. They included Rizwan, Afridi, Rauf, Shadab, Babar, and Hasan Ali. Pakistani players dominated the draft nominations.
Why It Matters
This year’s draft showed strong growth. The earlier date helped clubs plan. It also gave fans more content during the offseason.
The structured format kept things fair. No one team could stockpile talent. The salary tiers allowed transparency.
With Pakistani and English players signing up, global attention grew. Fans from Asia, England, and New Zealand now have more reason to watch.
The mix of pre-signings and fresh picks was well balanced. Teams retained past performers while adding new stars.
Viewing the Draft
The draft was streamed live. Fans could watch on Fox Sports, Seven Network, 7plus, and Kayo Sports.
The WBBL draft came first. The BBL draft started at 4 pm AEST. It was covered in detail across Australian media.
Clubs also posted updates on social media. Videos, interviews, and live reactions added excitement.
What to Watch Next
Teams will finalize full squads soon. Each team will have 18 players. These include local and overseas players.
Injuries or withdrawals can lead to replacements. Clubs may sign up to five more overseas players later.
Training camps and season previews will follow. Fans can expect bold campaigns. BBL 15 promises new rivalries and intense cricket.
Verdict
The 2025–26 BBL Draft was a success. It brought big names, fair selections, and high fan interest. Early planning, smart picks, and global talent make this season special.
With players like Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, Rizwan, and Shadab Khan, fans are in for a treat. The BBL is ready to deliver world-class action once again.
