Exciting Draft Ahead: Aus-T20 League 2024-25 and Women’s Aus-T20 League 2024 Player Nominations Announced

432 male cricketers have thrown their hats into the ring as the countdown begins for the Aus-T20 League 2024-25 player draft on September 1. The big names in the long list of nominations include Jofra Archer, Lungi Ngidi, and Haris Rauf. On the women's side, the excitement is no less, with 161 overseas players, including 19 from India, nominated for the Women’s Aus-T20 League 2024 overseas draft.

It means that the eight clubs will select as the availability of players permits. The players have categorized their availability into four groups: full availability including finals, full regular season availability, 6-9 games, and 4-6 games.

By that logic, Archer has made himself fully available for the regular season since there is no conflict with England's white-ball commitments until a T20 series in India starting on January 23, exactly two days after the Aus-T20 League league phase ends. This is his possible return to the Australian league for the first time since its eighth edition. However, the franchises could keep in consideration the injury history of him and the clean health chit of the ECB. 

Likewise, there are questions after Reeza Hendricks from South Africa about the availability of Ngidi. His other compatriots Tabraiz Shamsi, however, have kept their availability between 6-9 games as they have to head back home for the SA20 league, commencing early in January.

By contrast, a few of Archer's fellow English pacers declared full availability, including for finals week: Reece Topley, Jamie Overton, Paul Walter, and Brydon Carse.

Haris Rauf, also available for retention for the Melbourne Stars, has been made available for 6-9 games owing to Pakistan's white-ball tour of South Africa in December.

The landscape in the Women’s Aus-T20 League is just as fluid, with South Africa Women hosting England for a multi-format series, starting November 24, the day the league phase ends. This means the availability of a few top attractions could be an issue. Full availability should make former South African pace spearhead Shabnim Ismail one of the star draws. Kate Cross and Lauren Filer will represent England's participation in all likelihood, but only in the league phase.

On the bright side, South African opening star Tazmin Brits and the all-rounder Sune Luus are committed to the whole course of the tournament.  Their English counterpart Heather Knight, Sophie Ecclestone and Alice Capsey may miss the finals if selected.

The UAE will also host the Indian women's team for three ODIs after the World T20 League, which means many players will only be available for 6-9 games and the finals. Prominent Indian players such as Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues are among the nominees.

Zak Crawley, England men's player, and Dani Gibson, England women's pacer, have withdrawn their names from the nominations ahead of the draft.

These teams will weigh in these availability factors carefully as drafts approach, and it promises to be an exciting season both in the Aus-T20 League and Women’s Aus-T20 League.

The following are the contracted players: