“I’m super pumped to be joining the Sydney Sixers"
Babar Azam is headed to the Big Bash League for the first time, joining the Sydney Sixers for the upcoming BBL 15 season.
The high-profile signing marks a major coup for the Sixers ahead of the tournament.
The announcement is already being hailed as one of the most high-profile acquisitions in BBL history.
Babar, who has long been considered one of the world’s premier white-ball cricketers, will be making his BBL debut with the Sixers.
His arrival brings not only world-class batting talent but also a decade of international experience and proven leadership on the global stage.
As per BBL rules, teams are allowed to pre-sign one overseas player ahead of the official draft.
The Sixers took full advantage of this by securing Babar before the draft, which is scheduled for June 19, 2025.
The move was made possible after the Pakistan Cricket Board issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to a number of key players.
This cleared Babar Azam’s path to play in Australia.
In a statement released by the club, Babar said: “I’m super pumped to be joining the Sydney Sixers this season.”
His enthusiasm was matched by fans on social media, with cricket followers from both Pakistan and Australia welcoming the news.
Babar brings a glittering resume to the Sixers as he has scored over 11,000 runs in T20 cricket.
The cricketer has also been featured in top leagues around the world.
This includes the Pakistan Super League, Caribbean Premier League, and English domestic competitions.
He captained Pakistan from 2019 to 2024, leading them to the T20 World Cup semi-final in 2021 and the final in 2022.
Among his many accolades, Babar was named the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year in both 2021 and 2022.
He also received the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year award in 2022.
Babar became the fastest player to reach 5,000 ODI runs, achieving the feat in just 97 innings.
Importantly for the Sixers, Babar is available for the entire BBL 15 season, including the playoffs.
That availability significantly boosts the team’s chances of mounting a strong title challenge.
His calm under pressure and technical brilliance are expected to complement a squad that already includes seasoned players.
This includes Sean Abbott, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques, Todd Murphy, Mitch Perry, Josh Philippe, Jordan Silk, Steve Smith
With Babar Azam on board, the Sydney Sixers have added not just a batter but the complete package.
Loading ...