Cricket Australia (CA) has released the draft for the Big Bash 2024 Men’s and Women’s League. A total of 593 players, including 432 men and 161 women representing 30 countries, have given their names for the Big Bash League (BBL) auction. Jofra Archer and Haris Rauf included in the men’s draft
The BBL men’s draft includes some of the world’s most brilliant fast bowlers, including England’s Jofra Archer and Pakistan’s Haris Rauf. South African fast bowler Lungi Ngidi is another high-profile name in the draft pool. Along with him is his compatriot Tabrez Shamsi. Top order batsman Reeza Hendricks is also included. Smriti Mandhana will play for the defending champions
Indian opener Smriti Mandhana will be seen playing for defending champions Adelaide Strikers in this season of the Women’s Big Bash League. She has signed a pre-draft overseason contract with the franchise. She has become the first Indian player to do so. Apart from Mandhana, captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemima Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma have also been included in the draft. 28-year-old Mandhana will be seen playing for the fourth team in the 10-year history of the league. Earlier, Mandhana has been a part of Brisbane Heat in 2016, Hobart Hurricanes in 2018-19, Sydney Thunders in 2021. India’s vice-captain Mandhana was not a part of this league in 2023. She had decided not to participate in the league due to workload management and domestic cricket. The current season of the league is starting from September 1. Kate Cross and Lauren Filler included for Women’s Draft
England’s Kate Cross and Lauren Filler are both available for the entire season for the women’s draft. South African fast bowler Shabnim Ismail, who could be retained by the Hobart Hurricanes. Players from 30 different countries were called for this year’s BBL draft. It also includes players from emerging cricket nations such as Hong Kong, Uganda, Japan, Greece, Indonesia and Romania. The draft also sees the return of several Big Bash icons. Haris Rauf, who could be retained by the Melbourne Stars. He has been nominated for 6-9 games plus the final. His previous stint with the Stars was spectacular. He won many matches for the Melbourne Stars. Pre-draft signed players from BBL and WBBL
All 8 clubs of the Big Bash League have opted for pre-draft signing foreign players in both BBL and WBL.
Each team will have to select 2 foreign players in four rounds
Each team will have to select at least two foreign players in four rounds of both drafts. Teams can choose their favourite player from the already existing foreign players.
