Pakistan’s star batter, Babar Azam, made his much-anticipated Big Bash League (BBL) debut on Sunday, December 14, but it was not the start he would have hoped for. The former Pakistan captain, who joined Sydney Sixers ahead of the tournament, is among the marquee names of this T20 competition, with fans eager to see him find form ahead of the T20 World Cup, scheduled in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. Babar, 31, struggled in his first outing, lasting only five deliveries and managing just two runs before pacer Brody Couch dismissed him. His opening ball was a dot, and on the fourth delivery, he attempted a flat-batted pull shot against a short-of-length ball but ended up mistiming it. The ball looped toward mid-on, where the fielder easily completed the catch. Commentators noted that Babar was “beaten by the bounce,” which affected his timing and shot execution. The match itself, between Sydney Sixers and Perth Scorchers at Optus Stadium, had been shortened to 11 overs per side due to rain and thunderstorms. Babar’s BBL debut comes after his return to Pakistan’s T20I squad, following a period on the sidelines. Since returning post-Asia Cup, his performances have been inconsistent, and with no further T20Is scheduled before the World Cup, he is expected to use the BBL to regain rhythm ahead of the tournament. Babar is not alone among Pakistan players in the BBL this season. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Rizwan will also feature in the league, showcasing their skills on Australian soil. Ahead of the match, Babar shared a brief conversation with broadcasters Adam Gilchrist and Mark Howard, revealing that his father had accompanied him to Australia. “Good to be back here. Good to go. My father is here because he loves travelling. I am happy that my father is here,” he said.
