Brisbane Heat Archives

Usman Khawaja shines on BBL return as Heat cruise past Thunder

BRISBANE: Recently retired Usman Khawaja marked his return to the Big Bash League (BBL) in style, producing a commanding knock to lead Brisbane Heat to a dominant victory over bottom-placed Sydney Thunder at The Gabba on Saturday.

The win kept the Heat firmly in the playoff hunt. Starting the day seventh on the BBL 15 points table, the home side climbed to fifth with the crucial result, while Thunder’s miserable campaign continued as they remained rooted to the bottom.

Thunder captain David Warner won the toss and opted to bat, becoming the first skipper to do so this season. He justified the decision with a fluent innings at the top, even as his side lost early wickets and slipped to 49-2 inside seven overs.

Warner found solid support in Sam Billings, with the pair adding 84 runs from 50 balls for the third wicket.

Warner dominated the stand with aggressive stroke play before his innings ended via a run-out. He top-scored for Thunder with 82 off 56 balls, laced with eight fours and three sixes.

Billings followed soon after, scoring 34 off 26, while Nic Maddinson added a quick 21 off 14.

However, Thunder failed to capitalise in the latter stages and were restricted to 180-6 in their allotted 20 overs.

Matt Renshaw picked up two wickets for Heat, with Xavier Bartlett, Matthew Kuhnemann and Thomas Balington claiming one apiece.

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In reply, Brisbane Heat came out firing as Jack Wildermuth and captain Usman Khawaja smashed 57 runs in just 23 balls to give the chase early momentum.

Daniel Sams broke the opening stand by dismissing Wildermuth, who hammered 39 off 15 deliveries, including three sixes and four fours.

Nathan McSweeney made a brief stay, scoring 12 off 10, before Khawaja combined with Renshaw to put the result beyond doubt. The duo added 93 runs from 56 balls for the third wicket in a decisive partnership.

Khawaja fell with only five runs required, denied a match-winning finish, but he had already done the damage with a superb 78 off 48 balls, featuring ten boundaries, seven fours and three sixes.

Renshaw remained unbeaten on 42 off 26, while Max Bryant sealed the win in emphatic fashion by smashing the first ball he faced for a six, as Heat crossed the line with 22 balls to spare.

For Thunder, Wes Agar, Daniel Sams and Chris Green picked up one wicket each, but the bowlers were unable to halt Heat’s charge on the night.

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Brisbane Heat sign Pakistan pacer as Shaheen Afridi’s replacement

Brisbane Heat have strengthened their bowling resources for the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) 15 by signing Pakistan fast bowler Zaman Khan as an international replacement for the injured Shaheen Shah Afridi.

The 24-year-old right-arm pacer has received clearance from the BBL Technical Committee and is set to be available for the Heat’s fixture against Sydney Thunder at the Gabba on Saturday.

The match will see Zaman come up against his former franchise, having previously represented the Thunder during BBL 13.

Known for his distinctive slingy action and effectiveness at the death, Zaman featured in four matches for Sydney Thunder, claiming eight wickets at an impressive average of 16.38.

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Since making his international debut in 2023, he has gone on to represent Pakistan in 10 T20 Internationals and one One-Day International, picking up seven wickets across formats.

Zaman Khan arrives in Australia in good rhythm, having recently made an impact in the Abu Dhabi T10, where he grabbed a hat-trick in his opening match of the tournament.

He also brings experience from multiple leagues around the world, including the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he plays under Shaheen Afridi at Lahore Qalandars, and England’s The Hundred, where he turned out for Manchester Originals.

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Brisbane Heat head coach Johan Botha expressed confidence that Zaman’s inclusion would add a cutting edge to the bowling unit as the tournament reaches a crucial phase.

“He’s a genuine wicket-taker up front, but he can also control an over with his variations and pace,” Botha said.

“He complements our attack nicely and gives us additional options in the key bowling periods. Zaman was a handful when he first came on the scene and has continued to evolve his game.”

READ: Second group of Pakistan squad departs for Sri Lanka

Wildermuth, Renshaw smash tons as Brisbane Heat script historic BBL chase

BRISBANE: Jack Wildermuth and Matt Renshaw produced blistering centuries as Brisbane Heat pulled off a record-breaking chase to stun Perth Scorchers in a Big Bash League (BBL) 15 thriller at the Gabba on Friday.

Chasing a mammoth target of 258, Heat sensationally overhauled the total, registering the highest successful run chase in BBL history and the second-highest team total ever recorded in the competition.

The previous chase record stood at 230, set by Adelaide Strikers against Hobart Hurricanes in 2023.

Remarkably, it was also the first time in T20 cricket history that two batters scored centuries in a successful chase.

Wildermuth anchored the innings with a blistering unbeaten 110 off just 45 balls, hammering five fours and nine sixes.

He found an ideal partner in Renshaw, who smashed 102 from 51 deliveries, also striking five boundaries and nine maximums, as the duo completely turned the contest on its head.

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Brisbane Heat innings began inauspiciously with Colin Munro dismissed off the very first ball, but what followed was nothing short of astonishing.

Wildermuth and Renshaw added 212 runs for the second wicket in just 95 balls, a partnership that left the Scorchers reeling.

Renshaw’s knock ended in the 16th over when he was run out, with the Heat already well within touching distance of the target.

Max Bryant then chipped in with a brisk 28 off 16 balls before retiring hurt after injuring his left shoulder while running between the wickets.

Wildermuth fittingly struck the winning runs, scampering through for a couple to seal a historic chase.

Earlier, Perth Scorchers had set the stage with a formidable batting display after being asked to bat first, piling up 257 for six.

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Mitchell Marsh departed early for three, but that proved to be the only early joy for the Heat bowlers.

Finn Allen and Cooper Connolly tore into the attack, sharing a blazing 142-run stand that powered the Scorchers to 150 inside just 12 overs.

Connolly struck a rapid 77 off 37 balls, including six fours and six sixes, before being dismissed by Wildermuth.

Allen soon followed, falling to Shaheen Shah Afridi for a scintillating 79 off 38 balls, an innings featuring eight sixes and three fours.

Late cameos from Aaron Hardie (23) and Nick Hobson (26) ensured Perth finished with a daunting total.

For the Heat, Xavier Bartlett claimed two wickets, while Shaheen Afridi, Wildermuth, Liam Haskett and Matthew Kuhnemann picked up one apiece.

Kuhnemann, however, endured a night to forget, conceding 60 runs in his spell, the most expensive figures by a spinner in BBL history.

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BBL 15: Seifert’s century powers Renegades to victory over Heat

GEELONG: Tim Seifert’s blistering century backed by a clinical bowling effort, which powered Melbourne Renegades to victory over Brisbane Heat in the second fixture of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 here at the GMHBA Stadium on Monday.

Set 213, Brisbane Heat fell short by 14 runs, managing to score 198-8 at the end of 20 overs.

Colin Munro remained the top-scorer with 55 from 32, striking five sixes and three fours, whereas wickets tumbled around him.

Jason Behrendorff removed opener Jack Wildermuth for a duck to provide the Heat a solid start, which was backed by skipper Nathan McSweeney’s wicket in the third over, who could only manage nine.

As a result, Brisbane Heat were reduced to 21-2 in 3.1 overs with Munro and Matt Renshaw at the crease. The duo tried to put the chase back on track with a brief 34-run partnership.

Renshaw made 18 off 12 with the aid of two boundaries and a six before being caught. At this stage, the scorecard read 55-3 in 6.5 overs.

Catch Big Bash League (BBL) 15 news updates here!

Meanwhile, Munro continued on and stitched another 45-run stand with Max Bryant, which propelled the score to the 100-run mark at the end of 11.2 overs.

The threatening stand culminated with Bryant’s wicket, who perished for 14 from 16 balls, which was also followed by two wickets in the 12th over.

As a result, Heat slumped from 100-4 to 108-6 in 13 overs. However, Jimmy Peirson and Hugh Weibgen provided their side with a hope with a brisk 78-run partnership of only 35 balls.

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Peirson hit three sixes and four boundaries in his brisk 22-ball half-century, whereas Weibgen remained unbeaten on 38 from 20 deliveries, hitting two sixes and four boundaries.

Eventually, it was not enough with the required rate ballooning as Heat fell short of the target.

For Melbourne Renegades, Will Sutherland stood out with three wickets to his name while Gurinder Sandhu and Jason Behrendorff scalped two apiece.

Earlier, put into bat first, Melbourne Renegades racked up 212-5 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to Tim Seifert’s 102 off 56, peppered with nine fours and six maximums.

Josh Brown was caught for 15 in the third over, followed by Mohammad Rizwan’s (4) dismissal after the powerplay. With Renegades 49-2, Siefert held firm at one end and shared a brief 33-run partnership, which brought the score to 8-3 in 9.3 overs.

Jake Fraser-McGurk made 14 from seven with the aid of a six and a four.

However, the highlight of the Renegades’ innings was the match-defining partnership between Tim Siefert and Oliver Peake, who added 121 from 57 balls on the fourth wicket.

As a result, Renegades’ scoring rate exceeded the 200-run mark, which eventually proved match-winning. Oliver Peake was caught after making 57 from 29, studded with half a dozen boundaries and three sixes.

For Brisbane Heat, Jack Wildermuth remained the stand out bowler, who picked up three wickets in his quota of four overs.

READ: Shaheen Afridi endures nightmare BBL debut as umpires take him off attack

Brisbane Heat hails Shaheen Afridi’s all-round brilliance in Asia Cup

Big Bash League (BBL) franchise Brisbane Heat has lauded Pakistan’s left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi for his standout all-round performances in the ongoing ACC Asia Cup 2025.

Shaheen has made a strong impact with both bat and ball in recent outings. Against India, he smashed a quickfire 33 off just 16 deliveries, including four sixes, at a strike rate of 206.25. Although wicketless on that occasion, his cameo kept Pakistan in contention in what turned out to be a low-scoring defeat.

In Pakistan’s must-win clash against the UAE, he once again rose to the occasion. Coming in during a collapse, he struck 29 off 14 balls with three boundaries and two sixes, lifting Pakistan to 146/9 in 20 overs.

With the ball, he followed it up with a decisive spell of 2/16 in three overs, helping bowl UAE out for 105 and sealing Pakistan’s place in the Super Four.

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Impressed by his all-round display, Brisbane Heat took to social media to applaud their upcoming recruit, posting: “The Eagle! A true all-rounder performance on the big stage. #AsiaCup” alongside a photo of Shaheen.

Shaheen was the first overall pick in the BBL player draft on June 19 and will represent Brisbane Heat in the 15th edition of the tournament later this year.

The draft saw six of the eight franchises target Pakistan players, with wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan snapped up third in the platinum category, while England’s Luke Wood went second.

This marks Shaheen’s maiden BBL stint, though he is no stranger to franchise cricket, having previously featured in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), ILT20, and The Hundred.

The 2025–26 BBL season will run from December 14 to January 25, 2026, featuring 44 matches.

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Shaheen Afridi sets sights on BBL 15 title with Brisbane Heat

Pakistan’s ace pacer Shaheen Afridi eyes another title as he gears up for his maiden Big Bash League (BBL) season with Brisbane Heat.

The BBL 15 Draft, held in Melbourne on Thursday, saw six of the eight franchises show interest in Pakistan’s top players, with five national stars eventually earning contracts.

Meanwhile, star batter Babar Azam was pre-signed by the Sydney Sixers ahead of the BBL 15 draft.

Shaheen’s selection as the No. 1 Platinum pick headlines a strong Pakistani presence in the league this season.

Speaking during The Surge Podcast, Shaheen shed light on playing in Australia, as well as featuring in the marquee league for the first time.

The left-arm pacer aimed for glory with the Brisbane Heat, noting that this would make his maiden season in the tournament more memorable.

“That will be amazing — to win one more trophy. It would make my first season even more special. In the PSL, we won three trophies, and it’s all about the players and how the management gives you that cushion to enjoy your cricket,” he said.

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“That’s the main thing. I’m really hopeful — Brisbane Heat are a very good side, and I’m looking forward to winning another trophy with them,” Shaheen added.

The left-arm pacer also talked about his signature wicket-taking celebration, along with performing in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

“It will be even more special if I get a wicket in the first over again,” he said.

“I’ll put all my energy into the celebration, and with the support of the crowd behind me, it’ll feel amazing. I’ll be even happier if both Pakistani and Australian fans cheer and call out ‘Afridi’ when I’m at the top of my run-up. That will really pump me up, and I think I’ll enjoy it even more,” he stated.

Shaheen Afridi, who recently led Lahore Qalandars to their third title in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) revealed his favourite wickets in the upcoming season of BBL.

“For me, it’s all three. I wouldn’t pick just one because all of them are crucial wickets. They’re key players for their teams, and I’d love to dismiss each of them,” he concluded.

READ: WATCH: Players participate in scenario-based matches at PCB skill development camp

WATCH: Shaheen Afridi reacts after being picked by Brisbane Heat in BBL 15 Draft

Pakistan’s pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi has expressed his excitement after being snapped up by Brisbane Heat as the first overall overseas pick in the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 Draft.

The BBL 15 Draft, held in Melbourne on Thursday, saw six of the eight franchises show interest in Pakistan’s top players, with five national stars eventually earning contracts.

Meanwhile, star batter Babar Azam was pre-signed by the Sydney Sixers ahead of the BBL 15 draft.

Shaheen’s selection as the No. 1 Platinum pick headlines a strong Pakistani presence in the league this season.

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He will be available for the entire BBL campaign, including the finals, adding firepower to a Heat side already stacked with talent.

In a video message shared by the Brisbane Heat on its official social platforms, the 25-year-old left-arm quick shared his thoughts on joining the reigning BBL champions.

“Hello everyone, I am excited to join Brisbane Heat for my first Big Bash season. Bowling at the Gabba is always very special. Looking forward to meeting all the Heat fans this summer. See you all. Thank you,” said Shaheen Afridi.

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Moreover, Mohammad Rizwan was picked fourth in the Platinum round by Melbourne Renegades. The seasoned wicketkeeper-batter is aiming to make a strong statement ahead of the T20 World Cup next year.

Haris Rauf, retained by Melbourne Stars, continues his association with the franchise he has served since 2019. Rauf is currently active in the MLC 2025 with San Francisco Unicorns.

Shadab Khan, drafted by the Sydney Thunder, marks his fourth BBL stint. The leg-spinner has already represented Brisbane Heat, Sydney Sixers, and Hobart Hurricanes, tallying 14 wickets in 12 matches at an economy of 7.50.

Hasan Ali, selected by Adelaide Strikers, will also make his BBL debut. The experienced right-arm pacer has previously featured in the LPL, CPL, and BPL.

READ: Babar Azam opts out of PCB’s skills development camp after two days