BBL & WBBL: Cricket fans, mark your calendars! The Big Bash League (BBL) and Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) are gearing up for an exciting new season, and it all begins with the much-anticipated draft on June 19. Both leagues will feature eight teams each, all eager to secure some of the world’s top T20 talents for the 2025 season.
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The draft day will kick off with the *WBBL draft, followed by the *BBL draft later in the day. With fresh talent in the spotlight and seasoned international stars up for grabs, this promises to be a game-changing day for every franchise.
Draft Order: Who Picks First?
BBL & WBBL: The draft order is determined by last season’s performance. The team that won the tournament gets the first pick, while the team that finished at the bottom of the table gets the last.
- In the *BBL, **Brisbane Heat, who lifted the trophy last season, will have the first pick. *Sydney Thunder, who finished eighth, will pick last.
- For the *WBBL, **Sydney Sixers—last season’s champions—will go first, while *Brisbane Heat will pick last in the women’s draft.
How the Draft Works: 4 Rounds, Multiple Tiers
BBL & WBBL: The draft consists of four rounds, each divided by player categories:
- Round 1: Platinum players
- Round 2: Mix of Platinum & Gold players
- Round 3: Mix of Gold & Silver players (this round happens in reverse order)
- Round 4: Silver & Bronze players
Each team *must draft at least two overseas players, and under the *”pre-sign” rule**, teams are allowed to sign one overseas player before the draft begins—this rule, introduced last season, gives teams more flexibility and strategy in shaping their squads.
Pre-Signed Players: Who’s Already In?
BBL & WBBL: Here’s a look at the pre-signed overseas players for both BBL and WBBL teams:
- Adelaide Strikers: Laura Wolvaardt (WBBL), Jamie Overton (BBL)
- Brisbane Heat: Nadine de Klerk (WBBL), Colin Munro (BBL)
- Hobart Hurricanes: TBC (WBBL), Chris Jordan (BBL)
- Melbourne Renegades: Hayley Matthews (WBBL), Tim Seifert (BBL)
- Melbourne Stars: Marizanne Kapp (WBBL), Tom Curran (BBL)
- Perth Scorchers: Sophie Devine (WBBL), Finn Allen (BBL)
- Sydney Sixers: Amelia Kerr (WBBL), Babar Azam (BBL)
- Sydney Thunder: Chamari Athapaththu (WBBL), Sam Billings (BBL) Top Players Nominated for the Draft
The upcoming draft features a stellar lineup of international cricket stars:
BBL Draft Notables:
- Pakistan: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf
- England: Jofra Archer, James Anderson, Liam Livingstone, Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Jason Roy
- Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera
- Bangladesh: Mustafizur Rahman
- New Zealand: Kane Williamson, Lockie Ferguson WBBL Draft Notables:
- India: Shikha Pandey, Yastika Bhatia, Jemimah Rodrigues
- Pakistan: Fatima Sana
- England: Lauren Bell, Sophie Ecclestone, Danni Wyatt
The inclusion of marquee players like *Babar Azam, **Sophie Devine, and *Amelia Kerr is already creating a buzz, and fans can expect even more fireworks once the final squads are announced.
Salary Brackets: What’s at Stake?
BBL & WBBL: Here’s what the overseas stars could earn if picked in different tiers:
WBBL Salary Tiers:
- Platinum: ₹62 lakhs
- Gold: ₹50 lakhs
- Silver: ₹36 lakhs
- Bronze: ₹22 lakhs
BBL Salary Tiers:
- Platinum: ₹2.36 crore
- Gold: ₹1.69 crore
- Silver: ₹1.12 crore
- Bronze: ₹56 lakhs
With high stakes and even higher rewards, players and teams will be eyeing the perfect match.
Tournament Schedule
- The WBBL is scheduled to run from late October to early December 2025.
- The BBL will kick off in *mid-December, continuing through to *the end of January 2026.
Both tournaments will feature 40 matches each, and the official match schedule is expected to be released soon.
Final Thoughts
BBL & WBBL: With the draft just around the corner and some of the biggest names in world cricket up for grabs, excitement is reaching fever pitch. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the Heat, Sixers, Thunder, or Renegades, this draft could redefine your team’s fortunes. Keep an eye on June 19—it could be the day your favorite team builds a title-winning squad!
