Leg-spinner Usama Mir emerged as the sole Pakistani cricketer to be picked in the 2024-25 Big Bash League (BBL) drafts, securing a spot with Melbourne Stars for the upcoming season.
In a draft that saw 69 men and 11 women cricketers from Pakistan available for selection, Usama was the only one chosen to participate in the Australian T20 competition.
The leg-spinner was selected by the Melbourne Stars in the third round of the BBL drafts, continuing his association with the franchise after representing them in the 2023-24 season.
The 2024-25 BBL season is scheduled to commence on December 15, 2024, and conclude on January 27, 2025. The league's draft strategy this year showed a preference for players who could commit to the entire season without the complexities of obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from their national boards.
Pakistani cricketers often face uncertainties regarding NOCs due to their national team commitments, affecting their participation in global leagues.
The BBL draft's first-round picks included prominent names like Ben Duckett (Melbourne Stars), James Vince (Sydney Sixers), Laurie Evans (Melbourne Renegades), and Lockie Ferguson (Sydney Thunder).
In the second round, players such as Tom Curran (Melbourne Stars) and Chris Jordan (Hobart Hurricanes) were selected. Usama Mir's selection came in the third round alongside players like Fabian Allen (Adelaide Strikers) and Sherfane Rutherford (Sydney Thunder).
