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Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam is set to make his Big Bash League (BBL) debut this season after signing with the Sydney Sixers — a deal that places him among the highest-paid players in the tournament’s history.
According to sources, the Sixers have picked Babar in the Platinum category and offered him a pre-signing contract that exceeds the base price set for Platinum players. While the base salary for Platinum players is approximately PKR 7.75 crore, Babar’s deal is reportedly worth close to PKR 10 crore.
This marks a major moment for the Sixers, who secured the services of one of the world’s most consistent white-ball performers ahead of the official BBL 15 draft, which is scheduled for Thursday, June 19. As per league rules, each team is allowed to pre-sign one overseas player before the draft, and the Sixers opted for the prolific Pakistani batter.
Babar, 30, has over 10,000 international runs across formats and has earned a reputation for his elegant batting style and calm presence under pressure. He captained Pakistan in all three formats from 2019 to 2024, leading the side to the semi-final of the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup and the final of the 2022 edition.
His individual accolades include being named the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year in both 2021 and 2022, and the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year in 2022. He also holds the record for being the fastest to 5,000 ODI runs — reaching the milestone in just 97 innings.
In the T20 format, Babar has scored over 11,000 runs and has featured in various global leagues, including the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and English domestic T20 competitions. His presence is expected to significantly boost the Sixers’ batting lineup and title hopes this season.
Importantly, Babar will be available for the entire BBL 15 season, including the knockout stages. The tournament is scheduled to begin on December 14.
Sydney Sixers squad for BBL 15 so far:
Sean Abbott, Babar Azam, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques, Todd Murphy, Mitch Perry, Josh Philippe, Jordan Silk, Steve Smith.
