Sydney Sixers announce huge signing for BBL 15 as former Pakistan skipper joins club

The Sydney Sixers have announced one of the biggest names in cricket has signed with the club after striking a deal with Babar Azam.

The Pakistan star joins ahead of BBL 15 and will be part of a squad that includes Steve Smith, Sean Abbott and Moises Henriques.

Azam captained has previously captained Pakistan at the T20I level but resigned for a second time in October 2024.

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The 30-year-old averages 43.07 in T20 cricket and 39.83 in the T20 international format.

In a Sixers statement, general manager Rachael Haynes described Azam as a "world-class player and a proven leader".

"He's not only a huge addition to our club, but to the league as a whole," she said.

"The Sixers strive to be a destination club on the global stage … and securing a player of Babar's calibre only further strengthens that vision."

A "very proud" Azam said: "it's an exciting opportunity to play in one of the world's best T20 leagues and to be a part of such a successful and respected franchise".

"I'm looking forward to contributing to the team's success, building a strong connection with the fans, and sharing this experience with my friends, family and supporters at home in Pakistan."

Azam currently sits second on the list for most runs scored in T20I cricket with 4223. Rohit Sharma is ahead of him by eight runs.

In the 2019/20 season, Azam announced himself to Aussie fans when he scored a century in the two-Test series against Australia. He finished with 210 runs at 52.50 across four innings.

"I thought Babar was extremely impressive. Looks to have a lot of class and could well become one of the best batsmen in the world," Ricky Ponting wrote on X at the time.

The signing of Azam will be significant for the BBL after the last big name signing was arguably AB de Villiers in 2019 when he played for the Brisbane Heat.

Other significant names to have played in the BBL include Jacques Kallis, Chris Gayle and Rashid Khan.

Fellow Pakistanis Shaheen Shah Afridi, wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, all-rounder Shadab Khan and bowler Haris Rauf are also set to play in the competition after nominating for the draft.

West Indies star Shamar Joseph is also a draft nomination.