Bad news for Babar Azam as star Pakistan batter to miss BBL final for Sydney Sixers due to…
Babar Azam’s maiden Big Bash League stint has come to an abrupt end, with the Sydney Sixers confirming that the Pakistan star will not feature in the remainder of the BBL finals. The opener has been asked to return home to join Pakistan’s national team camp, forcing him to leave Australia just days before the business end of the tournament.
The announcement came on Thursday, barely 24 hours before the Sixers’ Challenger final against the Hobart Hurricanes at the SCG. The winner of that match will travel to Perth to face the Scorchers in Sunday’s BBL final.
Change of plans for Sixers and Babar
Babar was initially expected to be available for the entire BBL season. He wasn’t part of Pakistan’s T20I series against Sri Lanka earlier this month, which made his full availability possible. However, with Pakistan beginning preparations for upcoming international fixtures, including a three-match T20I series against Australia starting January 29, the call was made for him to return immediately.
“The Sydney Sixers have today been informed that Sixers opener Babar Azam is required to return to Pakistan to join his national teammates in camp,” the club said in a statement, confirming he won’t be available for the rest of the BBL|15 finals.
Sixers thank Babar for his contribution
Sixers general manager Rachael Haynes admitted the decision wasn’t part of the original plan but stressed the club’s understanding of the situation.
“We had initially planned for Babar to be available throughout the finals,” Haynes said. “He’s been an immensely valued member of our group, and we fully understand that preparations are now underway for Pakistan’s upcoming matches.”
Despite a challenging season with the bat, Babar’s presence added star power and experience to the Sixers’ squad.
Cultural Misunderstanding and Moving On
The news follows comments made earlier this week by Sixers captain Moises Henriques, who revealed Babar was visibly upset after Steven Smith denied him a single during a match against the Thunder. Henriques described it as a simple cultural misunderstanding that was quickly resolved.
“It took a couple of days for that to settle down,” Henriques said. “Once it was explained to him, he was absolutely fine. They’ve kissed and made up—it’s two of the greats back friendly again.”
Henriques and head coach Greg Shipperd played key roles in clearing the air, ensuring the incident didn’t linger within the group.
Numbers tell a mixed story
Babar wraps up his first BBL season with 202 runs from 11 matches, averaging 22.44 and striking at 103.06. While those numbers fall short of his lofty standards, he did manage two half-centuries and gained valuable experience in Australian conditions.
Babar, for his part, remained upbeat about the stint.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time here,” he said. “I’m taking back a lot of positive things and great memories. The support from Sixers fans, especially at the SCG, was amazing.”
Squad updates ahead of the Challenger
With Babar departing, veteran batter Daniel Hughes has been recalled and is set to play his 100th BBL match for the Sixers in the Challenger final. Hobart Hurricanes, meanwhile, will welcome back captain Nathan Ellis, who returns after missing the Knockout due to a minor hamstring issue.
As the BBL finals heat up, the Sixers will have to push on without one of the game’s biggest names, while Babar turns his focus back to national duty and the challenges that lie ahead with Pakistan.