Six Chevrons stars for BBL overseas player draft

SIX Zimbabwe cricket stars have put their names in for the Australian T20 franchise league, the KFC Big Bash League (BBL) overseas player draft which closed on Monday.

Cricket Australia released the full overseas players’ list on Monday and it is made up of 376 players from 29 countries, including the Zimbabwean stars.

The player pick is scheduled for Sunday.

The six Zimbabwean players nominated and hoping to compete in one of the world’s finest T20 franchise leagues Down Under in the BBL are Bradley Evans, Naville Madziva, Brandon Mavuta, Richmond Mutumbami, Richard Ngarava, and Sikandar Raza.

As six Zimbabwean players put their names up, Pakistan, West Indies and England are the most represented nations with over 50 players from the respective nations signing up.

However, none of Zimbabwe’s BBL hopefuls have retention rights as they do not have the requirements for player retention.

Retention requires a player to have been in a Big Bash squad for a minimum of two seasons and haven’t been contracted to another team since, have been in a Big Bash squad the previous season, was in a team squad last season but did not play in the starting 13 and have been approved by the Big Bash Technical Committee and or, is otherwise approved by the Big Bash Technical Committee due to exceptional circumstances.

From the six Zimbabwean stars, some have international franchise cricket experience having taken part in the world’s biggest T20 leagues. Raza, who is also a favourite to be picked goes into the draft with vast T20 experience.

The Chevrons all-rounder comes in with Indian Premier League (IPL) experience having represented Punjab Kings in this year’s edition and was an important part of the team.

Raza is also a Pakistan Super League (PSL) winner with giants Lahore Qalandars.

He has also played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) based International League T20 (ILT20), Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and the Lankan Premier League (LPL) among other leagues.

He is presently the skipper of St. Lucia Kings in the ongoing Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Left-handed fast bowler, Ngarava also goes into the draft coming from an impressive and successful spell with Galle Titans in the 2023 LPL.

Ngarava made his mark in the Asian nation in just his first game, where he claimed two wickets.

It was his maiden appearance at an international franchise league and managed to show what he is capable of.

He is also one of the best death bowlers boasting of most dot balls since last year among the likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mustafizur Rahman and Mark Adair.

Some of the Zimbabwean players like Madziva, Mavuta, and Evans come in with international experience having represented the Chevrons on numerous occasions in big international stages.

Mutumbami was named batsman of the tournament in the 2022/23 Logan Cup season with 595 runs at an average of 45,7. Mavuta was named player of the tournament with 29 wickets at an economy rate of 3,76 and 332 runs at an average of 30,45.

Vying for a spot in the 13th edition of the BBL, Zimbabwean players will be competing with international stars such as Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan), Harry Brook (England), Harry Tector (Ireland), Curtis Campher (Ireland), Max O’Dowd (Netherlands), Mohammad Hafeez (Pakistan), Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan), Tabraiz Shamsi (South Africa), Rassie van der Dussen (South Africa), Jason Holder (West Indies) and, Shai Hope (West Indies) among others.

The 13th edition of the BBL is scheduled to start on 7 December. The league has eight teams. – @brandon_malvin