Babar Azam Lands Among Big Bash League’s Top-Earning Players

Former captain of the Pakistan cricket team, Babar Azam, has ascended to the ranks of the highest-paid athletes in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL). This follows his agreement with the Sydney Sixers for a sum surpassing the Platinum category’s established base salary.

This season marks Babar’s inaugural participation in the BBL, with the Sixers successfully acquiring his skills for the approaching tournament. Information regarding the terms between Azam and the club has also surfaced.

Sources indicate that the Sixers selected Babar under the Platinum tier, presenting him with an initial contract that exceeded the standard compensation.

While the Platinum category generally offers a base salary of approximately PKR 7.75 crore, insiders suggest Babar’s arrangement is valued at close to PKR 10 crore, positioning him as one of the most lucrative acquisitions in BBL history.

Having amassed over 10,000 runs internationally across all formats, the 30-year-old has cemented his status as one of the sport’s most accomplished and dependable batsmen.

Big Bash League regulations stipulate that each team can pre-contract one international player before the official BBL 15 draft, which is scheduled for Thursday, June 19.

As a central figure in Pakistan’s national cricket team for over a decade, Babar served as captain across all formats from 2019 to 2024. He guided Pakistan to the semi-final stage of the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup and the final in 2022.

Celebrated for his composure in critical moments and refined technique, the right-handed batsman has consistently been among the leading batsmen in both ODIs and T20 Internationals.

His honors include being recognized as the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year in both 2021 and 2022, along with the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year award in 2022.

He also boasts the record for reaching 5,000 ODI runs in the fewest innings, achieving this feat in just 97 attempts.

Babar enriches the league with extensive T20 experience, having scored over 11,000 runs in the format. He also has a significant presence in major global leagues such as the Pakistan Super League, Caribbean Premier League, and various domestic English competitions.

This significant agreement marks Babar’s debut in the BBL. His availability for the entire season, including the finals, offers a notable advantage to the Sixers’ title aspirations.

The BBL is scheduled to commence on December 14 of this year.

Sydney Sixers squad for BBL 15 so far:
  • Sean Abbott
  • Babar Azam
  • Joel Davies
  • Ben Dwarshuis
  • Jack Edwards
  • Moises Henriques
  • Todd Murphy
  • Mitch Perry
  • Josh Philippe
  • Jordan Silk
  • Steve Smith