Former Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam has officially joined Australia’s premier T20 competition, the Big Bash League (BBL), signing with the Sydney Sixers for the 15th edition of the tournament. The deal is being hailed as one of the most significant in BBL history.
With over 14,000 international runs to his name, Babar is considered one of the most successful white-ball batters of the past five years. He was named ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2022 and was awarded ODI Cricketer of the Year in both 2021 and 2022.
Currently ranked 12th in the ICC T20 batting rankings, Babar has amassed 11,330 T20 runs at an average of 43.07 — the highest average among top T20 run scorers.
Sydney Sixers General Manager Rachael Haynes expressed her excitement over Babar’s inclusion, stating that his experience, skill, and professionalism will be highly valuable for the team. She described him as not just a great player, but also an established leader.
Babar will be available for the full tournament with the Sixers, including the finals, and expressed his enthusiasm for playing in one of the world’s top T20 leagues.
“Being part of the Sydney Sixers is an honour for me. The BBL is one of the best T20 leagues in the world, and I aim to contribute significantly to the team’s success,” said Babar.
Notably, Babar is just nine runs short of surpassing Rohit Sharma to become the highest run-scorer in T20 international cricket.
Other Pakistani stars including Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shadab Khan have also registered for the BBL draft, indicating a strong presence of Pakistani players in the upcoming season.
