Harmanpreet Kaur in WBBL Draft along with two other Indians

The first batch of nominees has been revealed for the upcoming Big Bash League overseas drafts. Indian women’s team captain Harmanpreet Kaur has been included in the nominees along with two other Indian stars Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma.

The BBL and WBBL 2024/25 drafts will be organised on September 1, 2024. On Monday (August 19), the league revealed the first ten overseas draft nominees’ names for both the BBL and WBBL. 

Caribbean fast bowler Shamar Joseph, who was the West Indies’ star bowler during their historic win against Australia in the Gabba Test last January, has been included in the draft nominees. Apart from him, New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson is the only other name in the 20-member first draft nominees (men and women) who haven’t experienced the BBL or WBBL yet. 

There will be four rounds during both the BBL and WBBL drafts, where each team will pick one player in each round.

There are four categories for the BBL and WBBL draft salary brands. These categories are Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Each team must select at least two players during the draft. 

Out of 20 nominees, 14 players are eligible for retention by their latest teams. The Melbourne Renegades can retain Indian women’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur, while the Adelaide Strikers can retain South Africa Women’s skipper Laura Wolvaardt.

Meanwhile, 12 overseas players (six men and six women) have already earned the team contract through the pre-draft contract provision (check the pre-signed overseas players’ list). It is the new multi-year contract, where each team can sign one overseas male and one overseas female player for a maximum of three years. Only the Adelaide Strikers haven’t opted for the pre-draft contract provision. 

Although the pre-signed overseas players will not appear during the upcoming drafts, during the drafts, every team must select them for a salary brand that matches their contract.

BBL 14: First 10 draft nominees

Laurie Evans (England), Lockie Ferguson (New Zealand), Alex Hales (England), Shamar Joseph (West Indies), Shadab Khan (Pakistan), Jamie Overton (England), Haris Rauf (Pakistan), Jason Roy (England), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan), James Vince (England)

 

WBBL 10: First 10 draft nominees

Suzie Bates (New Zealand), Alice Capsey (England), Sophie Ecclestone (England), Shabnim Ismail (South Africa), Harmanpreet Kaur (India), Heather Knight (England), Jemimah Rodrigues (India), Deepti Sharma (India), Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa), Danni Wyatt (England)

 

Pre-signed overseas players

Adelaide Strikers: None

Brisbane Heat: Nadine de Klerk (South Africa), Colin Munro (New Zealand)

Hobart Hurricanes: Chris Jordan (England)

Melbourne Renegades: Hayley Matthews (West Indies), Tim Seifert (New Zealand)

Melbourne Stars: Marizanne Kapp (South Africa), Tom Curran (England)

Perth Scorchers: Sophie Devine (New Zealand), Finn Allen (New Zealand)

Sydney Sixers: Amelia Kerr (New Zealand)

Sydney Thunder: Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka), Sam Billings (England)