Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been forced to cut short his Big Bash League stint after being recalled by his national side, ruling him out of Friday’s must-win Challenger final for the Sydney Sixers.
The decision means the Sixers will be without their star opener for the remainder of the finals, even if they defeat the Hobart Hurricanes at the Sydney Cricket Ground to book a place in Sunday’s Big Bash final against the Perth Scorchers.
Babar has been recalled to join Pakistan’s preparations for a three-match T20 international series against Australia, scheduled to begin next week in Lahore. The series forms part of Pakistan’s build-up to next month’s T20 World Cup, although the squad for the global tournament has yet to be announced.
In a farewell message released by the Sixers, Babar thanked the club and its supporters for their backing during his brief stay.
“I have very much enjoyed my time here,” he said. “Unfortunately, I now have to leave the team to go for national duty. I’m taking back a lot of positive memories, a lot of fun, and great experiences.”
He paid special tribute to Sixers fans, saying the atmosphere at the SCG — particularly the vocal support from the so-called “Babaristan” section — made his time in Sydney memorable.
Sixers general manager Rachael Haynes said the club fully respected Pakistan’s decision, despite the timing being a blow during finals week.
“Babar has made a strong contribution on and off the field,” Haynes said. “The level of fan engagement he generated was exceptional, and the Babaristan stand has been one of the highlights of our home matches this season.”
Statistically, Babar’s first Big Bash campaign delivered mixed returns. While he scored 202 runs, including two half-centuries, his strike rate of 103 lagged well behind fellow openers Steve Smith (172) and Daniel Hughes (129). He struck just three sixes across the tournament — the lowest strike rate recorded in BBL history for a player with more than 200 runs in a season.
Those numbers had already sparked debate about his role in the Sixers’ finals push. Former Australia batter Mark Waugh suggested earlier this week that the Sixers should consider reshaping their top order.
“At the moment, the batting is almost entirely reliant on Steve Smith,” Waugh said on Fox Cricket. “As harsh as it sounds, Babar hasn’t quite done enough at the top this tournament.”
Babar’s departure now removes that selection dilemma altogether. Veteran left-hander Daniel Hughes is the most likely replacement at the top of the order, while captain Moises Henriques could also move up, allowing Jordan Silk to return to the middle order.
The Sixers will also continue to back their younger players, with Lachy Shaw, Joel Davies and Jack Edwards all given extended opportunities during this finals run.
“We were thrown into the deep end in the Qualifier,” Edwards said on Thursday. “It didn’t go our way, but it’s a learning experience. If we’re in that situation again, we’ll be better prepared.”
