BBL’s big overhaul: All-Aussie squads, draft scrapped in radical $1.7m shake-up to keep stars

Big Bash League clubs will no longer be required to sign overseas players under a new $1.7 million salary structure. The overhaul scraps the overseas player draft introduced in 2022 and allows teams to build squads entirely of Australian players if they choose. Key changes include: clubs must pay a combined minimum of $1.7 million to the top six players, with at least three local players earning at least $212,242 each. For the 2027-28 season, the minimum drops to $1.4 million for the top four players, with at least two being Australian. The move aims to retain leading Australian talent amid increasingly lucrative rival T20 competitions, particularly South Africa’s SA20. Clubs gain greater flexibility to prioritize domestic players while addressing concerns about underpayment relative to international recruits. The changes also provide minor salary-cap relief for players released with permission. The BBL’s embargo on player signings ends, opening a new recruitment landscape.