Cricket Australia chief executive officer Todd Greenberg has confirmed that Pakistan players will remain available for the full duration of the ongoing Big Bash League 15, ending uncertainty over their participation.
BBL 15 has attracted several leading Pakistan cricketers, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, and Hasan Ali. Questions had emerged over their availability due to Pakistan’s scheduled T20I tour of Sri Lanka in early January.
Speaking to reporters on the morning of the third Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval, Greenberg said Cricket Australia had received clear assurances that Pakistan players contracted to the BBL would not leave the tournament midway.
“we’re really excited about because we’ve got some great Pakistan players in the BBL. We’re looking forward to seeing them here this summer.”Greenberg said.
Among the Pakistan stars confirmed for the BBL are Babar Azam (Sydney Sixers), Shaheen Shah Afridi (Brisbane Heat), Hasan… pic.twitter.com/BfpWPi56hd
— Rashid Latif | 🇵🇰 (@iRashidLatif68) December 13, 2025“We’ve been told that if the BBL has signed them, they’ll play the whole BBL,” Greenberg said.
He also confirmed progress on Australia’s planned T20I tour of Pakistan ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. According to Greenberg, Cricket Australia, in coordination with the Australian Cricketers’ Association, has already sent representatives to Pakistan to conduct a pre-tour security assessment.
“We’ve just sent a couple of people to Pakistan to do a pre-tour for the T20I games in February,” he said. “We’ll have discussions with players after the Ashes about how the security arrangements will work. I toured Pakistan in 2022, and it was an outstanding experience.”
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Greenberg further revealed that Australia and Pakistan will move their three-match ODI series, part of the Future Tours Programme, to June. The revised window will allow the series to take place after the conclusion of both the Pakistan Super League and the Indian Premier League. The adjusted schedule will also align with Australia’s limited-overs tour of Bangladesh, which includes three one-day internationals and three T20Is in the same month.
