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Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan Included Among 30+ Pakistan Players in BBL Draft

image-llump41dShadab Khan played for Hobart Hurricanes in BBL last season (X.com)

A total of 376 international players have been nominated for the Big Bash League (BBL) 13 Draft, including more than 30 Pakistani nationals. Shadab Khan, Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah have all been unveiled as the most recent T20 superstars to nominate for the BBL Draft as the league today released a complete list of nominees for this year's event.

Shadab, Fakhar, Rauf, Rizwan all nominated for BBL Draft

Other well-known Pakistani names include Fakhar Zaman, Usama Mir, Shan Masood, Mohammad Hasnain, and veterans Yasir Shah, Asif Ali, and Usman Shinwari. The Pakistanis will join South African duo Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen, West Indian all-rounder Jason Holder, and Zimbabwean talisman Sikandar Raza in a record-breaking field of 376 overseas players from 29 nations.

While Rauf is a fan favorite at the MCG after playing for Melbourne Stars for three seasons from 2019–2022 and Shadab was drafted last year by the Hobart Hurricanes, both players are eligible for retention by those clubs on Sunday. On the other hand, Rizwan, Naseem, de Kock, van der Dussen, and Raza have yet to play in the Big Bash.

"With the uplift in Big Bash player payment pools this season, top international players are set to earn more than ever before highlighting the Big Bash League's continued commitment to fostering a world-class competition," Cricket Australia's general manager of Big Bash Leagues, Alistair Dobson, said in a statement.

Despite stating in January that he was "strongly considering" not returning to the BBL in protest over Cricket Australia canceling a scheduled ODI series against Afghanistan, the announcement also confirms that Rashid Khan has been nominated for this year's draft. The Afghanistan wizard will be eligible to be retained by Adelaide Strikers.

The BBL draft will take place on Sunday, September 3, in a televised event on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports.