Babar Azam is set to play for the Sydney Sixers in his debut season of the Big Bash League. The former Pakistan cricket team captain is set to play alongside Steve Smith during the tournament. Multiple reports have emerged claiming that Babar has joined the list of the highest-paid players in tournament history after being signed for a fee higher than the Platinum category base price. As per the report, Babar will be available for the entire season, including the finals.
How much did the Sydney Sixers Pay to sign Babar Azam?
As per League rules, each club can sign one international recruit ahead of the BBL 15 Draft, which is set to be held on Thursday, June 19. According to Geo News, citing their sources, the Sixers offered Babar a pre-signing deal in the Platinum category. The player in the Platinum category will receive somewhere between $360,000-$420,000 (depending on availability)
However, sources claim Babar’s deal is worth nearly PKR 10 crore, making him one of the highest-paid signings in the BBL. As per BBL regulations, each team is permitted to pre-sign one overseas player ahead of the official BBL 15 draft, scheduled for Thursday, June 19.
Babar Azam's international career
The 30-year-old brings plenty of T20 experience with a strong presence in major global leagues such as the Pakistan Super League, Caribbean Premier League, and various English domestic competitions. He brings a wealth of T20 experience and over 11,000 runs in the format to date.
Azam also captained the side from 2019 to 2024 in all three formats, leading Pakistan to the semi-final of the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup and the final of the 2022 edition. Speaking of his accolades, Babar was named ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year in 2021 and 2022, and ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year in 2022.
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.
