Pakistan batting star Babar Azam says he is eager to not only entertain the fans but also hone his game with Australian great Steve Smith as anticipation grows ahead of the opening weekend of the Big Bash League. A large number of Pakistani communities in Sydney and Perth are rushing to buy tickets, making Babar one of the major attractions of this year’s tournament. Sydney Sixers begin their campaign against five-time champions Perth Scorchers at the Optus Stadium on Sunday.
“I am extremely excited to be a part of the Sydney Sixers,” Babar told Telecom Asia Sports. “It’s true that you learn a lot playing in Australia so it will be a good experience for me, even more so because I will get a chance to play with Steve Smith, who is a great player.”
He is one of the seven Pakistani players to participate in the latest edition of the league. His long-time T20I opening partner Mohammad Rizwan has joined Melbourne Renegades, while Shaheen Shah Afridi has landed for Brisbane Heat.
Haris Rauf reunites with Melbourne Stars, Shadab Khan represents Sydney Thunder, Hasan Ali plays for Adelaide Strikers, and Hasan Khan is also in line for the Renegades.
Babar said that he is already feeling the support from local Pakistani fans. “I’ve already seen the enthusiasm in the Pakistani community in Perth and there will be more fans when I go to Sydney, so it’s great to entertain them.”
For many supporters, this is a rare opportunity to see the prolific batsman in action. Mohammed Imran, who has lived in Perth for 20 years, said he and his friends secured their seats early. “We had already bought tickets for the match and will go to see our favorite batsman in action.”
In Sydney, the enthusiasm has led local cricket clubs to establish a dedicated fan area called “Babristan” outside the Sydney Cricket Ground.
“Babar is our honour,” said Sydney cricket organizer Sohail Shaikh. “There is a lot of excitement among Pakistani fans about Babar coming to Sydney and playing for our team in the Big Bash League.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Topics mentioned in this article