Australian Big Bash League draft boosted with an influx of overseas spinners

Tournament regular Sandeep Lamichhane (22) of Nepal and fellow spinner Maheesh Theekshana (22) of Sri Lanka also joined the overseas pool, which currently has 169 players from 15 countries.

Tahir has been a familiar face in Twenty20 leagues across the world for years, while Mujeeb has represented Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League already.

Like Mujeeb, fellow Afghans Mohammad Nabi (37) and Zahir Khan (23) will be eligible for retention after both having played for Melbourne Renegades in the last season.

Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Jayasuriya will hope to attract franchises having routed Australia with 12 wickets in his debut test at Galle last month.

Jayasuriya has 29 wickets from just three tests although he is yet to play a Twenty20 International.

England's Overton brothers, twins Jamie and Craig (both 28), have also been nominated.

Pakistan players were absent from the pool with the ESPNCricinfo website reporting the country's cricket board would not allow them to play.

Nominations close on August 21st and the draft will be held on August 28th with the Big Bash League, itself, beginning in mid-December 2022.