Islamabad, Sep 2: After the conclusion of the Big Bash League (BBL) and Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) drafts, Usama Mir of Pakistan became the only player from his nation to be selected. The leg-spinner was selected in the third round by the Melbourne Stars, which signified his comeback to the squad for a second Big Bash League season.
No women cricketers were chosen in the BBL Draft, despite 69 men and 11 women from Pakistan being nominated. This underscores the difficulties Pakistani players have in obtaining positions because of national obligations and uncertainty surrounding No Objection Certificates (NOCs).Due to restricted availability, players who could commit to the entire season of Australia’s premier T20 competition were given preference by league officials.
The Sydney Sixers selected British cricketer Jafer Chohan, who has Pakistani ancestry, and Usama Mir were the two prominent picks with Pakistani connections. There was a high desire for English players in the BBL, which ran from December 15, 2024, to January 27, 2025, as 14 of them were chosen in the four rounds.Among the top selections were James Vince, who was kept by the Sydney Sixers, and Ben Duckett, who was selected first by the Melbourne Stars.
Teams’ strategic decisions were reflected in the drafts, which gave preference to players from England and New Zealand and focused on player availability and dependability. Usama Mir’s involvement is still a plus for Pakistan in the forthcoming BBL season, albeit everything.
