Babar Azam Joins Sydney Sixers in Record-Breaking BBL Deal
Pakistan’s batting maestro Babar Azam has signed a multi-crore deal with the Sydney Sixers, becoming one of the highest-paid players in Big Bash League (BBL) history ahead of the competition’s 15th edition.
The Sixers confirmed the marquee signing on Friday, exercising the league’s provision that allows franchises to directly sign one overseas player before the official draft. Sources close to the development revealed that Babar’s contract surpasses the Platinum category’s base threshold of PKR 7.75 crore, with his total earnings reportedly approaching PKR 10 crore — a landmark figure for a BBL signing.
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This will be Babar’s debut season in Australia’s premier T20 league and is being described as one of the most high-profile acquisitions in BBL history. The 30-year-old joins a squad stacked with top-tier Australian talent including Steve Smith, Moises Henriques, Josh Philippe, and Sean Abbott.
“Babar Azam brings class, calmness, and a proven international record to our batting order,” a Sixers team official said. “His inclusion will significantly boost our title chances this season.”
The Pakistani star boasts over 10,000 international runs across formats and an impressive T20 record of more than 11,000 runs globally. He has previously featured in top-tier competitions like the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and various English county tournaments.
During his tenure as Pakistan’s captain (2019–2024), Babar led the team to the semi-final of the ICC T20 World Cup in 2021 and the final in 2022. He has earned numerous accolades, including ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year (2022) and back-to-back ODI Cricketer of the Year awards (2021, 2022).
Former Australian captain Aaron Finch praised the signing, calling Babar “arguably the greatest player of this decade.” Finch added, “There’s no bigger name than Babar Azam among Pakistani players in the BBL draft. He’s a global superstar, and it’s fantastic for Australian fans to see him in action this season.”
Finch also highlighted left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi as a top draft prospect, calling him “a match-winner” who could be a game-changer for any side.
Under BBL rules, each franchise may pre-sign one overseas player before the June 19 draft. By signing Babar early, the Sixers have avoided the draft uncertainty and secured a player expected to attract immense viewership, especially among South Asian cricket fans.
Sydney Sixers Squad for BBL 15 So Far:
- Babar Azam
- Steve Smith
- Moises Henriques
- Sean Abbott
- Josh Philippe
- Todd Murphy
- Jordan Silk
- Mitch Perry
- Ben Dwarshuis
- Joel Davies
- Jack Edwards
The Sixers, three-time champions, are aiming to bounce back after two title-less seasons — and Babar Azam could be the key to reigniting their championship hopes.
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