Usman Khawaja has re-signed with the Brisbane Heat for the upcoming BBL 2026-27 season. The 39-year-old opener has signed a new deal after his previous four-year contract expired and will now play a full Big Bash campaign following his retirement from international and first-class cricket earlier this year.
Khawaja retired from international cricket after the Sydney Ashes Test in January before ending his Sheffield Shield career with Queensland in March. He did not re-sign during the initial nine-day player movement window but joined the Heat after the league-wide contracting embargo was lifted last month.
Usman Khawaja Eyes First Full Big Bash Season With Brisbane Heat
Usman Khawaja is looking forward to playing a full Big Bash League season for the first time. The Brisbane Heat opener will begin BBL at the Gabba on December 15, with the full campaign giving him a chance to play without international commitments affecting his availability.
“It’s going to be a bit strange, but very exciting as well, to be at the Gabba for the first game of our season on 15 December,” Khawaja said. “In the past it has been a few games here or there, depending on the Australian team’s commitments, which has been enjoyable. But the prospect of a full competition is even better.”
Khawaja retired from international cricket after the Sydney Ashes Test in January and ended his first-class career with Queensland in March. He had been limited to short Big Bash stints in previous seasons because of his Australia commitments.
Usman Khawaja Could Feature as Brisbane Heat’s Designated Batter
Usman Khawaja has scored 2,240 runs in 73 BBL matches at a strike rate of 132.54, including two centuries and 13 fifties. The left-hander started his BBL career with the Sydney Thunder before joining the Brisbane Heat in 2022.
He also led the Heat when available, including their final three matches of the last BBL season. However, new head coach James Hopes is yet to confirm the team’s captain for the upcoming season.
Former Heat coach Johan Botha previously identified Khawaja as a strong candidate for the new designated batter rule. Under the regulation, teams can nominate one batter before the toss who can bat but cannot field or bowl.
Khawaja also played a key role in the Sydney Thunder’s maiden BBL title in BBL|05. He smashed an unbeaten 104 off 59 balls against the Adelaide Strikers in the semi-final before scoring 70 off 40 balls against the Melbourne Stars in the final.
Michael Neser and Two Overseas Stars Strengthen Brisbane Heat
Michael Neser recently signed a new deal that will keep him at the club until the end of BBL|17. The Heat have also added New Zealand batter Tim Robinson and England seamer Tom Curran as their overseas recruits for BBL|16. The club retained the maximum 10 players before the player contracting embargo.
Australian Test batter Marnus Labuschagne remains uncontracted. His availability could be limited by Australia’s five-match Test tour of India, which begins in mid-January.
Brisbane Heat’s BBL|16 contracted players so far: Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Tom Curran, Lachlan Hearne, Spencer Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Matt Kuhnemann, Nathan McSweeney, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Tim Robinson, Callum Vidler, Hugh Weibgen and Jack Wildermuth.
