Major update regarding Pakistani player's participation for full BBL 15 season: Know about it

Cricket Australia (CA) has confirmed that Pakistani players taking part in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) will complete the full season, easing concerns over their availability amid Pakistan’s scheduled T20I tour of Sri Lanka in January.

Speaking in Adelaide ahead of the third Ashes Test, CA chief executive Todd Greenberg said the board has received clear assurances regarding the availability of Pakistan’s leading stars. Players such as Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali were at the centre of speculation after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a short T20I series in Sri Lanka that overlaps with the BBL window.

Pakistani stars assured full BBL stay as CA prepares Pakistan tour

However, Greenberg made it clear that the matter has been settled. “We’ve been told that if they’ve been signed by the BBL, they’ll play the whole BBL,” he said, adding that Cricket Australia remains confident none of the contracted players will be withdrawn midway through the tournament.

Alongside the BBL clarity, Greenberg also provided an update on Australia’s upcoming white-ball tour of Pakistan ahead of the T20 World Cup. While dates for the T20I series are yet to be finalised, he confirmed that preparations are already underway. Cricket Australia, along with the Australian Cricketers’ Association, has sent officials to Pakistan to conduct a pre-tour security assessment.

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“We’ve just sent a couple of people to Pakistan to do a pre-tour for the T20I games,” Greenberg said. “We’ll speak to the players after the Ashes series and explain how the tour will work from a security point of view. I toured Pakistan with the team in 2022 and it was an amazing experience.”

CA confirms FTP changes, Bangladesh Tests in Mackay and Darwin

Greenberg also revealed scheduling adjustments to Australia’s Future Tours Programme. The ODI leg of the Pakistan tour will be shifted to June, after the completion of the PSL and IPL, aligning with Australia’s limited-overs tour of Bangladesh in the same period.

In addition, CA confirmed that Bangladesh will tour Australia later in the year, with Test matches set to be played in Mackay and Darwin. Mackay will host its first-ever Test, marking the return of international red-ball cricket to Australia’s Top End for the first time since 2004.

Overall, Greenberg’s comments underline CA’s focus on schedule stability, player clarity and expanding the game’s footprint, while ensuring marquee tournaments like the BBL retain their star power.