An overseas player draft will be introduced to the Women’s Big Bash League this year as part of the biggest contracting shake-up in WBBL’s history.
The Big Bash confirmed on Wednesday the WBBL would follow in the footsteps of the BBL, which brought in a draft for the 2022-23 season.
Significant changes have also been made to the definition of ‘marquee player’, shaking up the way clubs can build their 15-player lists.
Foreign players will nominate for the draft across gold, silver or bronze tiers.
League officials will then elevate select players who they determine are the most enticing draft prospects to a platinum tier ahead of the draft.
Each club will be able to sign up to three overseas players via the draft (not including replacement players).
Further details on the draft, including the date and the order in which teams will pick, will come later but it is expected to largely mirror the BBL’s draft process, and it is not anticipated that major changes will be made to that system introduced last summer.
It is also likely there will be a retention pick system in place to allow clubs priority access to overseas players from last season. Details are yet to be confirmed, but in last year’s BBL draft, each club was entitled to one retention pick.
There is no draft for domestic players.
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