BBL 2022-23 | Rashid Khan, Kieron Pollard, and Dwayne Bravo amongst others sign up for Overseas Draft

The Big Bash League (BBL), which is gearing up for its first-ever overseas players draft, now sees Rashid Khan, Kieron Pollard, and Dwayne Bravo sign up for the historic event.

Also, New Zealand's hard-hitting all-rounder Colin Munro has registered for the draft, apart from fellow spinner Todd Astle. Munro was part of the Perth Scorchers side that won the last edition of BBL 11.

Rashid, who is most likely to stay with the Adelaide Strikers following the retention rule, which is now being called the "Rashid Khan rule," joins Qais Ahmad, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and five other Afghan players in the draft.

The leg-spinner has been associated with the Strikers since his inaugural BBL season.

Also Read: BBL 12 set to begin on December 13

According to ESPNcricinfo, West Indies rule the roost, with the total number of players signed up for the draft coming to 14.

Pollard, who has featured in the highest number of T20s (598), is joined by T20 cricket's leading wicket-taker Dwayne Bravo (596), both players who retired from international cricket last year, so will be fit and available this season.

Sheldon Cottrell, Evin Lewis, Ravi Rampaul, and Sherfane Rutherford are some of the other franchise cricket specialists that have put their names forward.

Andre Russell - another marquee name in T20 cricket - is likely to miss out this year.

South Africa's Faf du Plessis, Rilee Rossouw, David Wiese, and Marchant de Lange were announced as the initial group of players who would be available in the draft, which is to be held in mid-August.

Du Plessis recently played in the Indian Premier League (IPL), leading the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise. 

The players will be classified into three categories, namely, gold, silver, and bronze. 

However, Cricket Australia (CA) can add big names to the Platinum level.

Overseas Players Available 

Afghanistan

Rashid Khan, Qais Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Waqarullah Ishaq, Izharulhaq Naveed, Naveen Ul Haq Murid, Hazratullah Zazai

New Zealand

Colin Munro, Todd Astle

South Africa

Faf du Plessis, Marchant de Lange, Rilee Rossouw, David Wiese (also Namibia)

West Indies

Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Sheldon Cottrell, Chemar Holder, Akeal Hosein, Evin Lewis, Anderson Phillip, Khary Pierre, Ravi Rampaul, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Kevin Sinclair, Tion Webster, Nyeem Young

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