Usama Mir only Pakistani cricketer to be picked in BBL drafts

Leg-spinner set to represent Melbourne Stars in 2024-25 season of league

Big Bash League (BBL) and Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) draft’s for the 2024-25 season have been wrapped up with only one Pakistani cricketer, Usama Mir, selected to play in the Australian men’s league.

Leg-spinner is the sole Pakistani player to be picked for the league despite 69 men and 11 women cricketers being available from the country.

Usama was picked by the Melbourne Stars in the third round of the BBL drafts. He also represented the franchise in the 2023-24 season of the league.

The BBL, set to start on December 15, 2024 and end on January 27, 2025, preferred foreign players who would be available for the complete season without issues related to No Objection Certificates (NOCs).

Pakistan’s players are bound by their national team commitments and their participation in leagues is often uncertain regarding NOCs

First-round picks: Ben Duckett (Melbourne Stars) , James Vince (Sydney Sixers — retention), Laurie Evans (Melbourne Renegades), Lockie Ferguson (Sydney Thunder), Shai Hope (Hobart Hurricanes), Jamie Overton (Adelaide Strikers — retention), Colin Munro (Brisbane Heat —pre-signed player), Finn Allen (Perth Scorchers — pre-signed player)

Second-round picks: Tom Curran (Melbourne Stars — pre-signed player), Jacob Bethell (Melbourne Renegades), Ollie Pope (Adelaide Strikers —pre-signed player), Chris Jordan (Hobart Hurricanes — pre-signed player), Sam Billings (Sydney Thunder — pre-signed player), Paul Walter (Brisbane Heat), Passed — Perth Scorchers, Akeal Hosein (Sydney Sixers — pre-signed player)

Third-round picks: Passed — Sydney Sixers, Matthew Hurst (Perth Scorchers), Passed — Brisbane Heat, Fabian Allen (Adelaide Strikers), Passed — Hobart Hurricanes, Sherfane Rutherford (Sydney Thunder), Tim Seifert (Melbourne Renegades — pre-signed player), Usama Mir (Melbourne Stars)

Fourth-round picks: Passed — Melbourne Stars, Passed — Melbourne Renegades, Passed — Sydney Thunder, Rishad Hossain (Hobart Hurricanes), Passed — Adelaide Strikers, Tom Alsop (Brisbane Heat), Keaton Jennings (Perth Scorchers), Jafer Chohan (Sydney Sixers)