Pakistan's Babar Azam, right, and Mohammad Rizwan will feature in the next Big Bash League in Australia. AFP
Pakistan's Babar Azam, right, and Mohammad Rizwan will feature in the next Big Bash League in Australia. AFP
Pakistan's Babar Azam, right, and Mohammad Rizwan will feature in the next Big Bash League in Australia. AFP
Pakistan's Babar Azam, right, and Mohammad Rizwan will feature in the next Big Bash League in Australia. AFP

Babar Azam and other highest-paid cricketers in Big Bash League after 2025/26 player draft


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When you talk of T20 and league cricket, the first name that pops up is generally the Indian Premier League.

That tournament changed the course of modern cricket and paved the way for other franchise leagues, bringing in billions of dollars into the sport.

After almost two decades, the IPL remains at the pinnacle of cricket and is also one of the most valuable sports commodities on the planet.

But apart from IPL, there are other big and exciting leagues in the world. And the consensus is that while the IPL is the biggest, Australia's Big Bash League has consistently been the best league in cricket.

The Big Bash League has steadfastly eschewed big investments from overseas entities until now, retaining ownership of their product. The result is a high-quality tournament that focuses on creating a family-friendly environment at the ground and encourages grassroots participation.

The tournament runs for a big portion of the Australian summer – December to January – alongside international cricket. The tournament does struggle a bit when it comes to attracting top talent, as many of their own stars are busy with international cricket while overseas players also have commitments with other leagues that run at the same time.

This year, the situation is slightly different. Several Pakistan stars have suddenly been made available for the 2025/26 season. The country's own Pakistan Super League has shifted away from the January-February window, at least for now, and that has allowed star names to be picked for the next season of the Big Bash.

Star batter Babar Azam, fast-bowling ace Shaheen Afridi, and wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan were some of the big names picked up during the player draft last week.

The Big Bash operates on a player draft with salary caps. Players are divided into four categories – platinum, gold, silver and bronze.

The top tier platinum category players receive up to A$420,000 (US$270,000) depending on availability. Gold category players receive up to $190,000 followed by silver ($127,000) and bronze ($63,000).

Here, we take a look at the highest paid players in the Big Bash League after the latest player draft. All players in list are platinum category.

Highest-paid players in Big Bash League after draft

Babar Azam (Sydney Sixers) - Up to $270,000

Shaheen Afridi (Brisbane Heat) - $270,000

Mohammad Rizwan (Melbourne Renegades) - $270,000

Chris Jordan (Hobart Hurricanes) - $270,000

Sam Curran (Sydney Sixers) - $270,000

Haris Rauf (Melbourne Stars) - $270,000

Lockie Ferguson (Sydney Thunder) - $270,000

Finn Allen (Perth Scorchers) - $270,000

Colin Munro (Brisbane Heat) - $270,000

Jamie Overton (Adelaide Strikers) - $270,000

Tom Curran (Melbourne Stars) - $270,000

Luke Wood (Adelaide Strikers) - $270,000

RESULTS

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m, Winner SS Lamea, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer).

5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,400m, Winner AF Makerah, Sean Kirrane, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m, Winner Maaly Al Reef, Brett Doyle, Abdallah Al Hammadi

6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh90,000 1,600m, Winner AF Momtaz, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi

7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m, Winner Morjanah Al Reef, Brett Doyle, Abdallah Al Hammadi

7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 2,200m, Winner Mudarrab, Jim Crowley, Erwan Charpy

One in nine do not have enough to eat

Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.

One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.

The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.

Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.

It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.

On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.

Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.

 

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UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

Simran

Director Hansal Mehta

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Soham Shah, Esha Tiwari Pandey

Three stars

Asia Cup 2018 Qualifier

Sunday's results:

  • UAE beat Malaysia by eight wickets
  • Nepal beat Singapore by four wickets
  • Oman v Hong Kong, no result

Tuesday fixtures:

  • Malaysia v Singapore
  • UAE v Oman
  • Nepal v Hong Kong
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Three tips from La Perle's performers

1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.

2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.

3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.

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Silent Hill f

Publisher: Konami

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Rating: 4.5/5

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The biog

Age: 46

Number of Children: Four

Hobby: Reading history books

Loves: Sports

Know before you go
  • Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
  • If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
  • By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
  • Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
  • Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.

 

While you're here

The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders
Stuart Kells, Counterpoint Press

MATCH INFO

Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)

Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm

MATCH INFO

Manchester United 2 (Heaton (og) 42', Lindelof 64')

Aston Villa 2 (Grealish 11', Mings 66')

The specs: 2018 Maserati Levante S

Price, base / as tested: Dh409,000 / Dh467,000

Engine: 3.0-litre V6

Transmission: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 430hp @ 5,750rpm

Torque: 580Nm @ 4,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 10.9L / 100km

What's in the deal?

Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024

India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.

India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.

Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments

India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery

Company%C2%A0profile
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Scoreline

Man Utd 2 Pogba 27', Martial 49'

Everton 1 Sigurdsson 77'

Updated: June 24, 2025, 2:47 AM