Sydney: Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam is gearing up for an exciting season with the Sydney Sixers, expressing his enthusiasm to not only entertain fans in Australia but also enhance his game by playing alongside Australian legend Steve Smith. The Big Bash League (BBL) 2024-25 begins this weekend, and Babar has already emerged as one of the top crowd-pullers of the tournament.
With strong Pakistani communities in both Sydney and Perth, ticket demand has surged as fans eagerly prepare to watch Babar in action. The Sixers will open their campaign on Sunday against five-time champions Perth Scorchers at the Optus Stadium.
“I am super excited to be a part of the Sydney Sixers,” Babar told Telecom Asia Sport. “You always learn a lot when you play in Australia, and this will be a valuable experience for me, especially getting the opportunity to play alongside Steve Smith, who is a great player.”
Babar is one of seven Pakistani cricketers competing in this year’s BBL. His long-time T20I partner Mohammad Rizwan will feature for the Melbourne Renegades, while Shaheen Shah Afridi joins Brisbane Heat.
Other Pakistani players in the league include:
- Haris Rauf – Melbourne Stars
- Shadab Khan – Sydney Thunder
- Hasan Ali – Adelaide Strikers
- Hasaan Khan – Melbourne Renegades
Babar shared that he is already feeling the warmth of the local Pakistani supporters.
“I’ve seen incredible excitement among the Pakistani community in Perth, and I know there will be even more support in Sydney. It’s a great feeling to entertain them,” he said.
For many long-time residents, this is a rare opportunity to watch one of Pakistan’s greatest modern batters live. Perth resident Mohammad Imran, who has lived in the city for over 20 years, said he secured his ticket as soon as sales opened. “We bought tickets well in advance to see our beloved batter in action,” he said.
In Sydney, local cricket clubs have gone a step further, setting up a special fan area called “Babristan” outside the Sydney Cricket Ground to celebrate Babar’s arrival.
“Babar is our honour,” said Sohail Sheikh, a cricket organiser in Sydney. “There is tremendous excitement among Pakistani fans here, and we can’t wait to see him represent the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League.”
As the tournament approaches, the anticipation continues to grow, with Babar Azam at the centre of the BBL buzz.
