Rashid Khan, the highly sought-after Afghanistan wrist-spinner, will not participate in the Big Bash League (BBL) for the second consecutive summer, a significant setback for both Cricket Australia and the Adelaide Strikers.
Officials unveiled the marquee players for next month’s draft on Monday, with West Indies star Shamar Joseph emerging as the most prominent new name on the list. Other notable players available include hard-hitting Englishmen Alex Hales, Jason Roy, James Vince, and Laurie Evans, along with New Zealand’s fast bowler Lockie Ferguson.
However, the absence of Rashid, who has been a major drawcard in the league, was confirmed after he chose not to nominate for the September 1 draft, according to reports from the Australian Associated Press (AAP). The decision is understood to have followed discussions between the Strikers and Rashid’s management.
Rashid holds the record for the most wickets taken by an overseas player in BBL history, with 98 wickets in 69 matches. He has developed a devoted following across Australia, owing to his performances and status as a former world No. 1 T20 bowler.
Previously, Rashid had hinted at boycotting the BBL in response to Australia’s refusal to play Afghanistan in bilateral matches, a stance taken by Cricket Australia due to the Taliban’s policies on women’s rights. However, Cricket Australia has emphasized that Rashid’s decision not to participate this season is related to his packed schedule rather than any political statement.
Rashid is expected to play in Afghanistan’s scheduled Test and white-ball matches against Zimbabwe in December, and he is committed to the SA20 league in South Africa, which begins on January 9. Meanwhile, fellow Afghan cricketer Mujeeb Ur Rahman has nominated for the BBL draft, though he does not have any conflicting commitments in South Africa.
Rashid’s absence this season follows his withdrawal from last summer’s BBL due to a back injury, despite initially nominating and being retained by the Strikers.
Nearly 600 players have put their names forward for this summer’s BBL and WBBL drafts, with clubs permitted to sign up to four overseas players each. Some players, such as Colin Munro, Sam Billings, Tom Curran, and Finn Allen, have already secured contracts under new competition rules that allow pre-draft signings.
In the Women’s BBL (WBBL), Indian star Harmanpreet Kaur has confirmed her return by nominating for the draft, joining English spinner Sophie Ecclestone. Other high-profile women cricketers, including Heather Knight, Suzie Bates, and Shabnim Ismail, have also committed to the draft, while Hayley Matthews, Sophie Devine, and Chamari Athapaththu have already signed with clubs.
Rashid’s decision not to participate comes as Australia’s Test captain, Pat Cummins, also indicated on Monday that he would likely miss the BBL. Cummins cited the brief gap between the end of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series and the start of a Test tour in Sri Lanka as the reason for his unavailability.
BBL officials are hoping that some of Australia’s Test stars will be available for a short window between these series. Strikers captain Alex Carey is expected to be announced on a new multi-year deal on Tuesday.
