Former Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has secured a landmark deal with Sydney Sixers, becoming one of the highest-paid players in Big Bash League (BBL) history, ahead of the league’s 15th edition.

The Sixers confirmed Azam’s signing on Friday, utilising the BBL provision that allows franchises to pre-sign one overseas player before the official draft. According to sources close to the development, Babar’s contract exceeds the Platinum category’s base price — estimated around PKR 7.75 crore — with his final salary reported to be nearly PKR 10 crore.

This marks Babar Azam’s first appearance in Australia’s premier T20 competition and is being hailed as one of the most high-profile acquisitions in the BBL’s history. The 30-year-old batter joins a star-studded Sixers lineup as they aim to strengthen their title credentials ahead of the 2025 season.

A prolific top-order batter, Babar has scored more than 10,000 international runs across formats and boasts an impressive T20 record, with over 11,000 runs in the shortest format alone. He has previously featured in other prominent leagues including the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and domestic English competitions.

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The Sixers’ management expressed enthusiasm over securing the services of the former Pakistan captain. “Babar Azam’s inclusion brings class, calmness, and world-class skill to our batting unit. He’s a proven performer on the global stage,” a team official said.

During his international career, Babar captained Pakistan from 2019 to 2024, guiding the team to the semi-final of the ICC T20 World Cup in 2021 and the final in 2022. His consistency and leadership have earned him widespread acclaim, including ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year in 2022 and back-to-back ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year awards in 2021 and 2022.

Former Australian captain Aaron Finch also lavished praise on the Pakistani star, calling him “arguably the greatest player of this decade.”

“There’s no bigger name than Babar Azam among Pakistani players in the BBL draft,” Finch said in a recent interview. “He has delivered world-class performances across continents. It’s fantastic for Australian fans to watch him play live this season.”

Finch also commended left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, who remains in the draft pool. “Shaheen is a match-winner and can change the course of a game with his bowling. Every team would want him,” he remarked.

Under BBL regulations, each franchise is permitted to sign one international player before the draft, which is scheduled for June 19. Sydney Sixers opted to bypass the uncertainty of the draft and signed Babar directly from the Platinum category.

Babar will join a squad that includes notable Australian players such as Steve Smith, Moises Henriques, Sean Abbott, and Josh Philippe. His presence is expected to draw significant viewership and fan engagement, particularly from South Asian audiences.

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.

The Sixers, three-time BBL champions, are looking to reclaim the title after a two-season drought, and Babar’s signing is seen as a strategic step towards that goal.