Cricket news 2024: Stars in for BBL draft despite lingering availability concerns

As nominations come to a close, a host of international stars have put their hand up for the upcoming BBL draft without indicating whether or not they will be available for the duration of the season.

Gabba conqueror Shamar Joseph has officially put his hand up to play in the Big Bash League, however West Indies commitments could significantly limit his potential involvement in this summer’s competition.

Rapid New Zealander Lockie Ferguson and BBL stalwarts James Vince, Haris Rauf, Alex Hales and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have also nominated for the overseas player draft, but none have indicated they will be available for the duration of the season.

Cricket Australia confirmed on Monday that nominations for next weekend’s men’s and women’s Big Bash drafts have closed, with CA announcing initial batches of players for both pools.

They include a host of players eligible to be retained at the draft, including Hales (Sydney Thunder), Jamie Overton (Adelaide Strikers), Rauf (Melbourne Stars), Laurie Evans (Perth Scorchers), Vince (Sydney Sixers) and Mujeeb (Renegades) of the men, and leading women Suzie Bates (Sixers), Alice Capsey (Stars), Sophie Ecclestone (Sixers), Shabnim Ismail (Hobart Hurricanes), Harmanpreet Kaur (Renegades), Heather Knight (Thunder), Laura Wolvaardt (Strikers) and Danni Wyatt (Scorchers).

But there is considerable fine print in the men’s group. Joseph, who ran amok in Brisbane to lead the Windies to a stunning Test victory in January, is likely to be called on for international duties in series against Bangladesh (ending December 20) and Pakistan (beginning January 16), meaning he would miss the start of the BBL (December 15) and the finals (January 21-27).

While Joseph’s calendar is congested because of international cricket, it’s understood several others have flagged to clubs that they would leave midway through the BBL season for rival T20 leagues in South Africa or the UAE.

Harris Rauf has been a consistent performer for the Stars. Picture: AAP Image

English batter Vince, a regular with the Sixers, has indicated he is only available before the ILT20 league in the UAE starts on January 11.

Ferguson, one of several Black Caps to turn down central contracts in recent months, is earmarked to leave ahead of the SA20 league beginning on January 9.

Hales, the walloping English opener who has starred over the years for the Thunder, would need to leave by the end of the first week of the new year, around the time Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb is also planning to depart if selected.

James Vince has nominated for the draft. Picture: Getty Images

Paceman Rauf, a proven performer with the Stars, would likely be a late arriver on Christmas Eve as Pakistan have a white-ball series against South Africa that overlaps with the start of the BBL season.

All players need to be given no-objection certificates from their respective home boards. The Afghanistan and Pakistan boards have been finicky around releasing their players for the BBL in recent seasons.

Afghan great and Strikers favourite Rashid Khan has cast doubt over his involvement on the back of Cricket Australia’s decision not to play bilateral series against Afghanistan on humanitarian grounds.

Rashid Kahn has been a star of the BBL. Picture: AAP

Stand-in England Test captain Ollie Pope is however understood to be interested in playing this season.

The format for the drafts has been changed for this year, with clubs able to pre-sign one overseas man and woman in a mechanism introduced to encourage players to pick the BBL over rival leagues.

In addition to their pre-signed player, clubs have one retention selection in each draft to match a bid from a rival club over a player who has most recently been on the former club’s books. But the bids must be matched at the same pay band.

The Strikers are yet to unveil their retained men’s player, as are the Sixers, who are expected to unveil the signing of West Indian tweaker Akeal Hosein.

Australia’s Test quicks are again doubtful to feature during the BBL this summer given the narrow window between the end of the home series against India and the start of the tour of Sri Lanka.

Originally published as Cricket news 2024: Stars in for BBL draft despite lingering availability concerns