Pakistan star Babar Azam will miss Friday’s must-win BBL Challenger final for the Sydney Sixers. Pakistan have recalled him ahead of their T20 series against Australia next week.
Babar will also be unavailable for the rest of the Sixers’ finals campaign if they go through. Sydney face Hobart at the SCG. If they win, they will meet Perth Scorchers in Sunday’s BBL Final in Perth.
Pakistan are yet to announce their squad for next month’s T20 World Cup. They will play three T20Is against Australia in Lahore from next Friday. The series will act as preparation for the World Cup.
Babar thanked the Sixers fans, coaches, and players in a statement on Thursday. He said, “I have very (much) enjoyed my time,” and added, “Unfortunately, I will now have to leave the team, to go to the national duty.”
He also spoke about what he will take back from his short stay. “I have a lot of things I have to take back home – a lot of fun, a lot of positive things, so I have enjoyed it a lot.”
Babar also praised the support he received at the SCG. “Especially, thank you to the Sydney Sixers fans; there is always support there, lot of support, lot of encourage(ment), a lot of fun, so I have very enjoyed that vibe at Sydney Cricket Ground, so thank you so much.”
Sixers general manager Rachael Haynes said the club understood Pakistan’s decision. She also praised Babar’s impact during his time with the team. “The level of fan engagement generated by Babar’s passionate supporters has been exceptional, highlighted by the Babaristan stand at the SCG, which has been a memorable feature of our home matches this season,” she said.
Babar is the all-time leading run scorer in men’s T20Is with 4,429 runs. He reached the mark after going past India’s Rohit Sharma during Pakistan’s series against South Africa in November. But he has not been able to produce his best form in his first Big Bash season.
The Sixers are the only BBL side with a Pakistani player still in the competition. Babar’s early exit could also simplify their selection plans ahead of the Hurricanes match.
The 31-year-old has scored 202 runs as an opener, including two half-centuries. But his strike rate of 103 is well below the numbers of his opening partners. Steve Smith has struck at 172, while Daniel Hughes has scored at 129.
Babar has hit only three sixes in the tournament. His strike rate is also the lowest in Big Bash history among batters who have scored more than 200 runs in a season.
Former Australia batter Mark Waugh had earlier suggested the Sixers should drop Babar. Speaking on Fox Cricket before Wednesday’s Hurricanes vs Stars Knockout match, Waugh said, “They need to rejiggle their batting, because at the moment it’s almost entirely reliant on Steve Smith.”
He added, “At the moment there’s not a lot of players in form, so I’m bringing in either (Daniel) Hughes or (Jordan) Silk.”
Waugh then said, “Unfortunately, I’m going to have to drop Babar Azam, I don’t think he’s done enough at the top of the order. I know he’s world-class, but you’re thinking about winning this tournament, and so far he just hasn’t done (enough).”
He finished by saying, “I’m thinking about a new opener.”
Hughes could be a direct replacement at the top. He scored 60 earlier in the season when he opened with Babar. Captain Moises Henriques could also move up the order, like he did against the Stars on January 8, if the Sixers want to bring Silk back into the middle order.
Both Hughes and Silk were part of the Sixers squads that won BBL titles in BBL 09 and BBL 10.
Sydney have also shown faith in younger players this season. Like Perth have backed young names such as Mahli Beardman, Brody Couch, and Cooper Connolly, the Sixers have given regular chances to Lachy Shaw, Joel Davies, and Jack Edwards.
Edwards said the group is learning quickly. He said, “It’s an exciting opportunity,” and added, “(we’re) seeing the future that’s there in Joel Davies and Lachy Shaw.”
He also reflected on their recent loss to the Scorchers. “We got thrown in the deep end the other night (in the Qualifier loss to the Scorchers) and didn’t quite handle as well as we could have. But it’s a learning opportunity and all we can do is take something away from it, try and get better and if we get put in that situation tomorrow night, hopefully we can take it.”
