Strikers tie down Khan and Stanlake to new Big Bash contracts

Rashid Khan, the Afghanistan legspinner who dazzled crowds in Australia during BBL07, has agreed a fresh deal keeping him with the franchise until the end of BBL09

^{Rashid Khan will stay with Adelaide Strikers until the end of BBL09}

Adelaide Strikers have made the first move to keep together their Big Bash-winning squad by handing new contracts out to several key players, including the most in-demand T20 player in the world.

Rashid Khan, the Afghanistan legspinner who dazzled crowds in Australia during BBL07, has agreed a fresh deal keeping him with the franchise until the end of BBL09.

Khan, 19, currently tops both the ICC ODI and T20I bowling world rankings and will be a crucial cog in the Adelaide machine as they look to defend their title next season.

^{Billy Stanlake has also signed a new contract}

In BBL07, he claimed 18 wickets with an outstanding economy rate of just 5.64 to leave a lasting impact with Strikers supporters.

Meanwhile, the franchise have also tied towering seamer Billy Stanlake to an extended contract.

Stanlake has committed to Adelaide for another three years after taking 11 wickets in the most recent edition of the Big Bash, returning an economy rate of 6.47 in the process.

A raft of further signings were announced by the Strikers on Monday, with allrounder Michael Neser also signing on for three more seasons and Jake Lehmann, Ben Laughlin and Liam O'Connor penning new contracts.