Shadab Khan Joins Sydney Thunder for BBL 15

Pakistani T20I vice-captain Shadab Khan has conveyed his thrill after securing a contract with the Sydney Thunder for the forthcoming Big Bash League (BBL) 15.

Shadab shared a BBL promotional graphic on Instagram, revealing his signing with the Thunder and articulating his eagerness to participate in one of the world’s premier T20 leagues.

“Excited to join @thunderbbl. Playing in the BBL is always a test. Australian conditions consistently present a fresh challenge,” Shadab commented.

This marks the fourth BBL franchise for the leg-spinner, who has previously been a part of Brisbane Heat, Sydney Sixers, and Hobart Hurricanes.

The 26-year-old has participated in 12 BBL matches to date, securing 14 wickets with an economy rate of 7.50.

The highly anticipated BBL 15 player draft occurred earlier on Thursday in Melbourne, where 25-year-old left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi was designated as the foremost overseas selection.

Out of 74 registered Pakistani players, seven national team stars piqued the interest of six out of the eight BBL franchises.

Among the other significant selections, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan was chosen as the third platinum pick, while England’s Luke Wood was drafted second after Shaheen.

Right-arm pacer Haris Rauf, currently with the San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025, has been retained by the Melbourne Stars and has been an essential player for the Stars since 2019.

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam was pre-signed by the Sydney Sixers prior to the draft and is slated to make his BBL debut this season.

In addition, former Pakistan U19 cricketer Hassan Khan was picked by the Melbourne Renegades in the Gold category, and right-arm pacer Hasan Ali was drafted by the Adelaide Strikers.

This season will be Hasan’s first in the BBL, having previously played in leagues such as the Lanka Premier League (LPL), Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), and Caribbean Premier League (CPL).