The Eagle has landed. The Brisbane Heat will soar into this summer’s KFC Big Bash League with number one pick Shaheen Shah Afridi to star in teal for the first time.
AFRIDI THE ONE FOR HEAT | Draft Secures Pakistan Star
The Pakistan left-arm paceman, nicknamed 'The Eagle', was taken by the Heat with their coveted first pick of today’s International Player Draft held in Melbourne.
Afridi will play in the BBL for the first time and joins the club’s former Pakistan recruits such as Shadab Khan, Yasir Shah and Fakhar Zaman to sign with the Heat.
The towering 25-year-old quick made his debut as a teenager and has established himself as one of Pakistan’s most dynamic players, with a glittering international career.
He has played 222 T20 matches to date, claiming 310 wickets at 20.99 with an economy rate of 7.95, and captained the Lahore Qalanders to the 2025 Pakistan Super League title earlier this year, the third title he has won with them.
His Pakistan career includes 116 Test wickets, 127 ODI and 102 T20I dismissals and includes appearances in two ICC World Cup tournaments and three ICC T20 World Cups.
Afridi said he was excited to be a part of the BBL for the first time and to join the Heat.
“Bowling at the Gabba is always special and I am looking forward to meeting all the Heat fans this summer," he said.
Afridi’s selection as a Platinum band player in the first round was followed by NZ batter Colin Munro in the second round, with Munro already tied to the Heat as a pre-signed player.
The experienced left-hander is in the second year of his contract with the Heat.
Brisbane passed on its third round selection before retaining English wicket-keeper/batter Tom Alsop, who played last summer with the Heat.
Despite missing the first part of the competition due to injury, Alsop made an impact as the Heat scrambled to qualify for the Finals, scoring 100 runs at a strike rate of 147.05.
The left-hander has been in fine form for Sussex in the Vitality Blast T20 competition, hitting two half centuries so far this month.
Alsop, 29, will play for the Trent Rockets in The Hundred again in the northern summer.
With the three international signings secured, the Heat has signed 16 players for BBL|15, with two more spots to fill on the 18-player roster.
BBL|15 Brisbane Heat squad to date:
Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pak), Tom Alsop (Eng), Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Lachlan Hearne (NEW), Spencer Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Matt Kuhnemann, Nathan McSweeney, Colin Munro (NZ), Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Callum Vidler, Hugh Weibgen (NEW), Jack Wildermuth.