The BBL (Big Bash League) and WBBL (Women’s Big Bash League) are all set to bring cricket fans back into the thrill with their upcoming player draft on June 19, 2025. The draft is one of the biggest highlights of the tournament, where teams select international stars and key performers in multiple rounds. This year too, both men’s and women’s teams will try to strengthen their squads with some powerful names from around the world.
How the Draft Process Works in BBL and WBBL
The draft is designed in a tiered and rotational format, where teams choose players in a specific order based on their performance from the last season.
- In BBL, Brisbane Heat won the 2024 season, so they will get the first chance in the draft.
- Sydney Thunder, who finished last, will pick their players at the end.
- In the WBBL, the Sydney Sixers will go first, and the Brisbane Heat Women will go last.
There are four rounds in the draft:
- Round 1: Platinum players
- Round 2: Platinum + Gold players
- Round 3: Gold + Silver players (reverse order)
- Round 4: Silver + Bronze players
Each team must draft at least two overseas players. There’s also a pre-signing window, which allows franchises to lock a foreign player before the draft officially starts.
Pre-Signed Players for Each Team
Some teams have already confirmed key signings:
- Adelaide Strikers: Laura Wolvaardt, Jamie Overton
- Brisbane Heat: Nadine de Klerk, Colin Munro
- Hobart Hurricanes: TBA, Chris Jordan
- Melbourne Renegades: Hayley Matthews, Tim Seifert
- Melbourne Stars: Marizanne Kapp, Tom Curran
- Perth Scorchers: Sophie Devine, Babar Azam
- Sydney Thunder: Chamari Athapaththu, Sam Billings
Star Players Nominated in the Draft
This year’s draft has a powerful mix of players from top cricketing nations.
For BBL 2025, nominated players include:
- From Pakistan: Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf
- From England: Jofra Archer, James Anderson, Liam Livingstone, Alex Hales, David Malan, Jason Roy
- From Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera
- From Bangladesh: Mustafizur Rahman
- From New Zealand: Kane Williamson, Lockie Ferguson
For WBBL 2025, key names include:
- From India: Shikha Pandey, Yastika Bhatia, Jemimah Rodrigues
- From Pakistan: Fatima Sana
- From England: Lauren Bell, Sophie Ecclestone, Danni Wyatt
What Are the Player Salaries in BBL and WBBL?
Salaries differ according to draft category and gender.
WBBL Player Salaries:
- Platinum: ₹62 lakh
- Gold: ₹50 lakh
- Silver: ₹36 lakh
- Bronze: ₹22 lakh
BBL Player Salaries:
- Platinum: ₹2.36 crore
- Gold: ₹1.69 crore
- Silver: ₹1.12 crore
- Bronze: ₹56 lakh
These salaries reflect the increasing popularity and commercial value of the Big Bash Leagues.
When Will the Tournaments Start?
- WBBL 2025 will run from late October to early December 2025.
- BBL 2025 will start in December and continue until end of January 2026.
Each tournament will feature 40 matches, and full schedules are expected to be announced soon.
