As fans across Australia gear up for his Big Bash League debut, Babar Azam is relishing the prospect of sharing a dressing room with one of the modern greats, Steve Smith. The Pakistan batting star believes his stint with the Sydney Sixers will be as much about learning as it is about performing.
Babar, one of the marquee overseas signings this season, will be in action from Sunday when the Sixers take on five-time champions Perth Scorchers at Optus Stadium. The anticipation among fans, particularly within Australia’s Pakistani diaspora, has been building steadily.
I am super excited to be a part of Sydney Sixers. It is a fact that you learn a lot while playing in Australia, so this is going to be a good experience for me, more so because I will get a chance to play alongside Steve Smith, who is a great player.
Pakistani Stars Light Up The Big Bash
Babar is one of seven Pakistan cricketers featuring in this edition of the Big Bash League, underlining the league’s growing appeal among elite international players.
His long-time T20I opening partner Mohammad Rizwan will turn out for the Melbourne Renegades, while pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi represents Brisbane Heat. Haris Rauf reunites with the Melbourne Stars, adding further firepower to the competition.
Fit-again allrounder Shadab Khan will play for Sydney Thunder, Hasan Ali for Adelaide Strikers and Hasaan Khan will also feature for the Renegades.
‘A Nice Thing To Entertain The Fans’
Babar expects strong support wherever he plays, particularly from Pakistani fans who see rare opportunities to watch their hero bat live.
I have already seen the excitement in the Pakistan community in Perth. When I go to Sydney, there will be more fans coming, so it’s a nice thing to entertain them.
That excitement is already evident. Mohammad Imran, who has lived in Perth for two decades, said he and his friends snapped up tickets well in advance.
We get a rare chance to see Babar bat. We bought tickets early and will go to watch our beloved batter in action.
‘Babristan’ And A City Buzzing
The buzz around Babar’s arrival has extended beyond matchdays. Sydney cricket clubs have planned a special stand named ‘Babristan’ outside the Sydney Cricket Ground, a tribute to his popularity and influence.
Babar is our honour. There is a lot of excitement among Pakistani fans about Babar coming to Sydney and playing for our team in the Big Bash League.
As Babar prepares for his Big Bash journey, the stage is set for both cricketing excellence and a celebration of fandom that transcends borders.
