Babar Azam joins Sydney Sixers ahead of BBL15

By Our Reporter
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The Sydney Sixers have pulled off a headline act ahead of this summer’s Big Bash League, signing Pakistan’s Babar Azam in what could be one of the most talked-about moves of the tournament.

Azam, who has scored over 10,000 international runs and captained Pakistan across all formats, will be available for the entire BBL|15 season, including the finals. At 30, he brings a calm presence and a heavy bat to a team that has long prided itself on consistency and class. This will be his debut in Australia’s marquee T20 competition.

The Sixers exercised a rule allowing each BBL club to secure one international player before the league’s official draft. The timing is strategic: the draft is scheduled for Thursday, June 19, and this signing could shape how other teams approach their picks.

Azam’s arrival is more than just a short-term boost for the Sixers. It’s a statement of intent from a club looking to remain among the tournament’s most consistent contenders.

His list of accolades is long. Twice crowned ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year, and named the overall ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year in 2022, Azam has been a fixture among the world’s top-ranked white-ball players. He still holds the record as the fastest to reach 5,000 ODI runs, getting there in just 97 innings—faster than the likes of Kohli and de Villiers.

Beyond his statistics, Azam offers a quiet leadership that has served Pakistan well, particularly during the 2021 and 2022 World Cups, where the side reached the semi-final and final respectively.

Rachael Haynes, the Sixers General Manager, said the club was thrilled. “Babar’s resume speaks for itself. The skill, professionalism, and experience he brings is of enormous value to our playing group. He is a world-class player and a proven leader,” she said.

Haynes noted that the signing aligns with the Sixers’ broader ambition to become a destination club for top-tier talent. “From playing at the iconic SCG to delivering world-class match day experiences, signing a player of Babar’s calibre strengthens that vision.”

Azam echoed the sentiment, calling it an exciting opportunity. “It’s an honour to join the Sixers,” he said. “The Big Bash has always been a competition I’ve wanted to be part of, and it’s a great chance to connect with Australian fans while representing Pakistan on a global stage.”

Azam’s T20 franchise experience includes stints in the Pakistan Super League, Caribbean Premier League, and domestic English competitions. He has accumulated more than 11,000 runs in the T20 format, making him one of the most reliable openers in world cricket.

The Sixers will hope his arrival bolsters their top order, which at times has lacked a consistent anchor. Azam is not the type to clear the boundary every second ball, but he builds innings with a quiet certainty that often lays the platform for fireworks at the other end.

For the BBL, his presence is another welcome nod of credibility. The league has faced questions in recent years about retaining global attention amid the growing competition from other T20 leagues. A player like Azam—still in his prime and coming off years of top-tier performance—adds weight.

The BBL|15 Draft will be broadcast on June 19 from 4pm AEST across 7mate, 7plus Sport, Foxtel, and Kayo Sports. With Azam locked in, fans and analysts alike will now be watching how other clubs respond. Will this be a one-off headline signing, or the start of a new arms race for international names?

Either way, the SCG will be ready. And so will the phones in Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad, as fans back home tune in to watch their star in magenta.

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