LAHORE – Star batter and former Pakistan captain Babar Azam is all set to make his long-awaited debut in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) after signing with the Sydney Sixers for the upcoming 15th edition of the tournament.
In a video message released by the franchise on Friday, the 30-year-old expressed his excitement about the new chapter in his career and shared his admiration for Australian cricket icons Steve Smith and Josh Hazlewood.
“Super excited to join the Sydney Sixers,” Babar said. “It’ll be a special feeling to finally play in the BBL and share the dressing room with one of my favorite batters, Steve Smith, and the brilliant Josh Hazlewood. I’ve always enjoyed playing in Australia, and I’m really looking forward to meeting my amazing fans there.”
Babar emphasized the personal and professional significance of the move, calling it a proud moment in his journey. “It’s a privilege to be part of one of the most respected and successful T20 franchises in the world. I’m eager to contribute to the team’s success, connect with the Sixers’ fans, and represent Pakistan in one of the premier T20 leagues globally.”
The Sydney Sixers exercised the BBL’s pre-draft signing option to secure Babar’s services ahead of the official BBL 15 Draft, set for June 19. As per league rules, each franchise is allowed one international signing before the draft.
Babar, who has amassed over 10,000 international runs across formats, will be available for the entire BBL season, including the playoffs — a significant boost to the Sixers’ title hopes.
Sydney Sixers Squad So Far:
Sean Abbott, Babar Azam, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques, Todd Murphy, Mitch Perry, Josh Philippe, Jordan Silk, Steve Smith.
PCB Issues NOCs for Guyana Global Super League
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to four players for participation in the upcoming Guyana Global Super League, scheduled from July 10 to 18.
Mohammad Nawaz, Saud Shakeel, Sahibzada Farhan, and Khawaja Nafay have all been picked up by different franchises for the T20 tournament.
Saud will represent the Guyana Amazon Warriors, while Nawaz and Farhan have been signed by the Hobart Hurricanes. Nafay has received an NOC as well, though his franchise is yet to be confirmed. So far, official NOCs have been issued for Nawaz and Nafay, while final clearances for Saud and Farhan are awaited.
Top Pakistan Players in BBL Draft Pool
Cricket Australia has also released the initial list of international players available for the BBL 15 Draft, with Pakistani stars Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, and Mohammad Rizwan making the shortlist.
The draft list also includes global T20 talents such as Sam Curran and Alex Hales (England), Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee (New Zealand), Kusal Perera (Sri Lanka), and West Indies speedster Shamar Joseph.
