AUS T20 League Grabs Pakistani Superstar Babar Azam For Season 15

Babar Azam. Photo: Facebook.

Australia's professional T20 cricket league - the Big Bash League - promises some serious South Asian batting firepower for its upcoming 15th Season.

BBL team Sydney Sixers have signed up Pakistani cricket superstar Babar Azam, marking one of the most significant acquisitions in the Big Bash League's history.

This coup sees one of the world's premier batters join the Sixers. Azam is not the only Pakistani cricketer at this year's BBL. Thanks to a scheduling break, six other prominent Pakistani players will join BBL league teams.

Here is the complete list of Pakistani players drafted for BBL Season 15 and their teams:

·      Shaheen Shah Afridi (Brisbane Heat, Platinum Category, No.1 pick)

·      Haris Rauf (Melbourne Stars, Retained Player)

·      Mohammad Rizwan (Melbourne Renegades, Platinum Category)

·      Babar Azam (Sydney Sixers, Pre-signed marquee player)

·      Shadab Khan (Sydney Thunder, Round 2)

·      Hasan Ali (Adelaide Strikers, Round 3)

·      Hassan Khan (Melbourne Renegades, Round 2)

Cricket Superstar Babar Aazam

Babar Azam at the MCG. Photo: Facebook

Babar Azam is widely regarded as one of the finest batters of the modern era. The elegant right-hander has amassed a total of 14,693 runs across all international cricket formats. This includes 4,235 runs in Tests, 6,235 runs in ODIs, and 4,223 runs in T20s, firmly establishing himself as a prolific and dependable performer in world cricket.

His leadership of the Pakistan national side from 2019 to 2024 saw them reach the semi-final of the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup and the final of the 2022 edition.

Azam's consistent brilliance has earned him prestigious accolades, including being named the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year for consecutive seasons in 2021 and 2022, and the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year in 2022.

Financial Landmark For BBL

Babar Azam’s signing is not just a sporting triumph but also a significant financial landmark for the BBL. The Sixers utilized a specific league rule that allows clubs to pre-sign one international recruit ahead of the BBL Season 15 Draft, which was held on June 19.

According to media reports Azam's salary will be around approximately AUD 540,000, making him one of the highest-paid players in the competition's history and exceeding the Platinum category's base price for overseas players.

Sixers' determination to secure a player of Azam’s caliber is already earning rewards for the BBL. His immense popularity, evidenced by nearly six million Instagram followers, is also expected to significantly boost the Sixers' social media engagement and fan attendance, particularly among Australia's Pakistani diaspora.

South Asian Talent At Big Bash League

 Since its inception in 2011, Australia's premier cricketing T20 event, the Big Bash League has progressively attracted top international cricketers, including many from South Asian cricketing nations.

While Indian players generally do not participate due to restrictions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the league has consistently featured stars from countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

Beyond the influx of international stars, the BBL has also become a crucial platform for the emergence of homegrown Australian-South Asian talent, who are increasingly making their mark. Players like Tanveer Sangha and Jason Sangha are prime examples of this burgeoning trend.

Tanveer Sangha, is a talented leg-spinner for the Sydney Thunder, has made significant strides in his career.

Of Punjabi Sikh heritage, Tanveer was Australia's leading wicket-taker at the 2020 Under-19 World Cup and made a memorable T20 international debut in August 2023.

Jason Sangha, also of South Asian descent, recently showcased his talent with a Sheffield Shield final century and has transitioned to the Adelaide Strikers for BBL Season 15.

Big Bash League 2025–26 Season Dates

The upcoming BBL Season 15 is scheduled to run from mid-December 2025 through late January 2026, continuing Australia’s premier T20 cricket tradition.

The tournament will feature 44 matches across multiple venues nationwide, including iconic grounds such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Perth Stadium, and others.

•            Season Start: December 15, 2025

•            Regular Season Duration: December 15, 2025 – January 27, 2026

•            Finals Series: Late January 2026

The finals will culminate in a grand final held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), one of the world’s most famous cricket stadiums and a fitting stage for the climax of the BBL season.

HISTORY OF BBL SEASONS AND WINNERS

Season	Dates (Approx.)	Teams	Champion	Runner-up	Final Venue
2011–12	Dec 2011 – Jan 2012	Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars, Perth Scorchers, Sydney Sixers, Sydney Thunder	Sydney Sixers	Perth Scorchers	WACA Ground, Perth
2012–13	Dec 2012 – Jan 2013	Same 8 teams	Brisbane Heat	Perth Scorchers	WACA Ground, Perth
2013–14	Dec 2013 – Jan 2014	Same 8 teams	Perth Scorchers	Hobart Hurricanes	WACA Ground, Perth
2014–15	Dec 2014 – Jan 2015	Same 8 teams	Perth Scorchers	Sydney Sixers	Manuka Oval, Canberra
2015–16	Dec 2015 – Jan 2016	Same 8 teams	Sydney Thunder	Melbourne Stars	MCG, Melbourne
2016–17	Dec 2016 – Jan 2017	Same 8 teams	Perth Scorchers	Sydney Sixers	WACA Ground, Perth
2017–18	Dec 2017 – Jan 2018	Same 8 teams	Adelaide Strikers	Hobart Hurricanes	Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
2018–19	Dec 2018 – Jan 2019	Same 8 teams	Melbourne Renegades	Melbourne Stars	Docklands Stadium, Melbourne
2019–20	Dec 2019 – Jan 2020	Same 8 teams	Sydney Sixers	Melbourne Stars	SCG, Sydney
2020–21	Dec 2020 – Jan 2021	Same 8 teams	Sydney Sixers	Perth Scorchers	SCG, Sydney
2021–22	Dec 2021 – Jan 2022	Same 8 teams	Perth Scorchers	Sydney Sixers	Docklands Stadium, Melbourne
2022–23	Dec 2022 – Jan 2023	Same 8 teams	Perth Scorchers	Brisbane Heat	Perth Stadium, Perth
2023–24	Dec 2023 – Jan 2024	Same 8 teams	Brisbane Heat	Sydney Sixers	SCG, Sydney
2024–25	Dec 2024 – Jan 2025	Same 8 teams	Hobart Hurricanes	Sydney Thunder	Bellerive Oval, Hobart

Participating Teams/Franchises (since 2011):

• Adelaide Strikers

• Brisbane Heat

• Hobart Hurricanes

• Melbourne Renegades

• Melbourne Stars

• Perth Scorchers

• Sydney Sixers

• Sydney Thunder

  
  

Summary of Titles Won by Team (up to 2024–25):

Team	Titles Won	Winning Seasons
Perth Scorchers	5	2013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2021–22, 2022–23
Sydney Sixers	3	2011–12, 2019–20, 2020–21
Brisbane Heat	2	2012–13, 2023–24
Hobart Hurricanes	1	2024–25
Melbourne Renegades	1	2018–19
Adelaide Strikers	1	2017–18
Sydney Thunder	1	2015–16
Melbourne Stars	0	—