Billings Lauds Babar Azam’s Global Cricket Stature

England’s wicketkeeper-batter, Sam Billings, has showered praise upon Pakistan’s prominent batter, Babar Azam, following his acquisition by the Sydney Sixers for the upcoming season of the Big Bash League (BBL).

In a recent discussion, Billings acknowledged Babar’s significance in international cricket, affectionately calling him “King.” He also conveyed his excitement about the prospect of the talented right-handed batter participating in the competition.

“He is King Babar Azam, as he’s known. He has consistently delivered world-class performances. Any tournament is elevated by the inclusion of a player of Babar Azam’s caliber, and the Sixers will certainly benefit,” Billings stated.

“I have frequently competed against him, and I’d much rather have him as a teammate. I’m really looking forward to the Sydney derbies again,” he further commented.

Billings has been a consistent participant in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) since 2022, representing Lahore Qalandars. He also complimented the abundance of talent within Pakistan’s cricket scene.

“Having played a lot of PSL, I can attest to the extraordinary level of talent—the talent pool is remarkable,” he remarked.

Babar’s signing has already generated considerable excitement within the cricket community. Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, also shared his reaction to the announcement, labeling it a “Great signing” in a brief post on X (formerly known as Twitter).

The Sydney Sixers officially confirmed Babar’s addition to their roster, highlighting it as one of the most significant acquisitions in the history of the BBL.

The batter, celebrated for amassing over 10,000 runs in international cricket across various formats, is widely recognized as one of the most dependable and prolific players globally.

According to BBL regulations, each team is permitted to enlist one international player before the official BBL 15 Draft, set for Thursday, June 19. The Sixers seized this opportunity to secure the services of the Pakistani star.

As a pivotal member of Pakistan’s national team for more than ten years, Babar served as the captain across all three formats from 2019 to 2024. His leadership guided Pakistan to the semi-finals of the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup and a runner-up finish in the 2022 edition.

In a video message shared by the franchise, Babar expressed his enthusiasm about joining the Sixers and collaborating with esteemed Australian players.

“I’m super excited to be joining the Sydney Sixers. I’m eager to share the field with Steve Smith, and Josh Hazlewood,” Babar said.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing in Australia, but debuting in the BBL will be truly special. I’m excited and looking forward to meeting my passionate cricket supporters,” he concluded.