Babar Azam joins Sydney Sixers for BBL season 15

Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam has signed with the Sydney Sixers for the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) 15 season, becoming one of the most high-profile international signings in the league's history.

The Sixers announced the signing on Friday, confirming that Babar will be available for the entire season, including the finals. As per BBL regulations, each team can sign one overseas player ahead of the official draft scheduled for June 19, and the Sixers used this opportunity to bring in the Pakistani maestro.

Babar, 30, is regarded as one of the most consistent and stylish batters in world cricket. With over 10,000 international runs across formats, he has been a key figure in Pakistan's national team for more than a decade. He captained Pakistan from 2019 to 2024, leading them to the semi-finals of the 2021 T20 World Cup and the final of the 2022 edition.

The right-hander is known for his calm demeanor, technical skill, and ability to perform under pressure. He has been ranked among the top batters in the world in both ODIs and T20Is for several years.

Among his many achievements, Babar was named ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year in 2021 and 2022, and ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year in 2022. He also holds the record for being the fastest player to reach 5,000 ODI runs, reaching the milestone in just 97 innings.

In T20 cricket, Babar has scored more than 11,000 runs and has played in major leagues around the world, including the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and various domestic tournaments in England.

This will be Babar Azam’s debut season in the BBL, and his inclusion is expected to significantly strengthen the Sixers' batting lineup and boost their title hopes.

Sydney Sixers squad so far for BBL 15:

Sean Abbott, Babar Azam, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques, Todd Murphy, Mitch Perry, Josh Philippe, Jordan Silk, Steve Smith.