England speedster Saqib Mahmood has signed on with the Sydney Thunder for one year and is set to make his Big Bash debut at Manuka Oval on December 6 against the Brisbane Heat.

The 24-year-old right-arm quick, whose parents are from Pakistan, joins English compatriots Alex Hales and Sam Billings as the Thunder's third international signing for the BBL season.

And he's expected to be unleashed immediately at Manuka Oval, already promising to bowl with aggression to fill the void left by New Zealand speedster Adam Milne.

"My approach to bowling is always taking the positive option, the brave option," Mahmood said.

"A lot of batters talk about playing with that fearlessness, and the same applies to bowlers. If you're taking the safe option as a bowler all the time your chances of taking wickets come down significantly.

"You have to back yourself a bit more, and if those risks come off it's massive for the team."

Mahmood emerged as a potential global star in July during a three-match series against Pakistan where he claimed nine wickets at 13.66, before being named player of the series.

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Prior to that he featured in the Pakistan Super League, joining South African star Dale Steyn as one of only two international seamers in the tournament, where he took 15 wickets in six matches.

"That got the best out of me because I knew I was a big part of the team - obviously a key member of that side," Mahmood said.

"I do remember there were a few question marks when I first got selected - 'why are we getting an overseas seamer when we have so many in the country?' - but the way I performed out there it went very well for me.

"For me the main thing is to try and help Sydney Thunder win the Big Bash.

"It's a real good side and there's a lot of class, a lot of match winners. I'll want to build a good relationship with my teammates and coaches, but the most important thing is to enjoy it and win that trophy."

Cricket NSW head of male cricket Michael Klinger said Mahmood's signing was a huge boost to the Thunder attack.

"He bowls 140 plus, strikes with the new ball and can bowl some really good yorkers at the end of the innings which is really what [coach] Trevor Bayliss and [captain] Usman Khawaja were keen on - someone who can take wickets up front but in particular bowl some really good overs and some high pressure overs at the back end of an innings," Klinger said.

"Those guys bowling at the back end not only need great yorkers, there's no doubt it's the best ball if you can execute it, but it's having that variety as well.

"Having that extra pace just makes opposition batters second guess themselves. If you're half a second behind as a batter when the ball's coming down at that speed, you're out."