🏏 Babar Azam Leaves Sydney Sixers Mid-Season in BBL15
Babar Azam batting for Sydney Sixers during BBL15 (mint)
Babar Azam with Sydney Sixers team mates in BBL15 (Sydney Sixers)
📌 The Big News: Babar Azam Exits BBL15
Pakistani batting star **Babar Azam has left the Sydney Sixers squad and will not play the remainder of the Big Bash League 2025–26 season. The Sixers confirmed that he has been recalled by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to join the national team camp, ahead of upcoming international fixtures and the T20 World Cup preparations. (Geo News)
The announcement arrived just over 24 hours before Sydney Sixers were due to play their Challenger final against the Hobart Hurricanes, making the timing especially dramatic. (mint)
📉 Performance and Criticism
Babar’s stint in the BBL was underwhelming relative to expectations. In 11 matches, he scored 202 runs at an average of 22.44 and a strike rate of about 103, including just two half-centuries. His lack of explosive batting in T20 conditions drew sustained scrutiny from fans and commentators alike. (Inside Sport India)
Former Australian great Mark Waugh publicly suggested that the Sixers should drop Babar Azam if they hoped to contend for the title — citing his insufficient impact at the top of the order. Waugh argued for other players like Daniel Hughes or Jordan Silk to take his spot. (NDTV Sports)
Across social media, many fans discussed his strike rate struggles and questioned whether he fit the fast-scoring demands of BBL batting. (Reddit)
🤝 Sixers’ Farewell & Appreciation
Despite the mixed on-field results, the Sydney Sixers publicly thanked Babar Azam for his time with the franchise. In an official statement, the club expressed gratitude for his contribution, highlighting his popularity with fans and the energy he brought to Sydney Cricket Ground matches. (Sydney Sixers)
Babar himself shared a heartfelt message in video form, thanking the team management, his teammates, coaches and the enthusiastic supporters who welcomed him to Australia. He spoke warmly about the crowd atmosphere and the positive experiences he took away from his BBL stint. (Geo News)
📅 Why He Left Now
The Sixers confirmed that Babar was required back in Pakistan to join the national team’s preparation camp. With important international duties and upcoming series on the calendar — including a **T20I series against Australia and the build-up to the T20 World Cup — his early departure was deemed necessary by the PCB. (Inside Sport India)
His exit means he won’t feature in Sydney’s remaining BBL finals matches, forcing the franchise to shuffle its batting lineup at a crucial juncture of the tournament. (SEN)
📊 What This Means for BBL and Babar
🟣 For Sydney Sixers
Losing a marquee signing mid-finals poses a strategic challenge. The Sixers must adapt their batting order and find a reliable opening partner for Steve Smith and others — a tough ask in knockout cricket. (NDTV Sports)
🟢 For Babar Azam
While Babar didn’t meet the lofty expectations set for him in T20 conditions this season, the focus now shifts to his role with the national team — where his leadership and batting are vital heading into major international series and the T20 World Cup. (mint)Big bash league 2025-26 match 37
🏁 Conclusion
Babar Azam’s early departure from the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League is a story of contrasting pressures: league expectations versus international duties. While his BBL performance fell short of hype and drew criticism from both pundits and fans, his emotional farewell underscores the respect he still commands globally.
For the Sixers, losing a big name at a critical point alters their title hopes. For Babar, it’s back to national colors — where the stakes of performance are even higher. One thing is certain: this chapter of his BBL journey will be remembered as a crossroads between franchise cricket ambition and international commitment.