Tag: Babar Azam

DUBAI: Pakistan’s leading batters Saud Shakeel and Babar Azam faced minor setbacks in the latest ICC Test rankings, released on Wednesday, while England’s Joe Root continued to dominate the batting charts.

Root retained his position as the No.1 Test batter in the world, with teammate Harry Brook holding on to second place after scoring 99 and a duck in the Headingley Test against India.

Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel dropped two spots to 10th with 739 rating points. He remains the only Pakistani batter in the top 10.

Mohammad Rizwan, meanwhile, maintained his 16th position, while Babar Azam slipped one place to 22nd with 651 points.

India’s Rishabh Pant, who scored centuries in each innings of the Headingley Test against England, rose one spot to claim seventh place.

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Meanwhile, England’s star batter Ben Duckett made the biggest leap, climbing five places to eighth after his match-winning 149 in England’s record chase of 371 runs.

On the other hand, Pakistan’s Nauman Ali retained his fourth-place position, continuing as the country’s sole representative among the top 10 bowlers in the ICC Test Rankings.

India’s spearhead Jasprit Bumrah remained at the top of the bowling charts, followed by South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada and Australia’s Pat Cummins.

India’s Ravindra Jadeja, however, fell three places to 13th following a subdued outing in the Headingley Test.

READ: FIH invites Pakistan to Hockey Pro League after New Zealand pullout: reports

England leg-spinner Adil Rashid has picked Pakistan ace batter Babar Azam over India batting maestro Virat Kohli for playing the most pleasing cover drives.

While speaking during a Podcast, Adil Rashid and his compatriot Moeen Ali shed light on the cover drives of two modern-day greats of the game.

Moeen, however, redirected the fan question to Rashid due to his vast experience of bowling to these two batters.

“He’s a big fan of Babar, you know,” Moeen Ali said on Rashid’s admiration for Babar Azam rather than his cover drive.

“I think Babar’s cover drive,” Rashid said while praising Kohli for elegance in his  straight drive and whip.”

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In addition to this, Adil Rashid picked former England batter Ian Bell as the best cover driver and India’s legend Rahul Dravid, who had the best defense in international cricket.

“I prefer Ian Bell because he made it look so easy while Rahuld Dravid had the best defense,” he said.

Moeen Ali, on the other hand, picked Virat Kohli over Babar Azam for playing the most elegant cover drives.

A few years earlier, former England captain Nasser Hussain had also made a similar claim, rating Babar’s cover drive ahead of Virat’s.

“I’m going to be biased. Sorry Indian fans but I’m gonna go with Babar Azam. I nearly went Kohli because I think Kohli is slightly different. Kohli has a bit more of a flick of the wrist of it. Babar Azam has just a lovely little [touch],” he had said.

“If I was teaching any young girl to watch, I’d ask her to watch Meg Lanning. I’m teaching any young boy to watch a cover drive. I would say watch Babar.” he concluded.

READ: Mehidy Hasan Miraz gives Bangladesh selection ‘headache’ for Sri Lanka Test

Former Australia T20I captain Aaron Finch has shared his excitement over the prospect of watching Pakistan’s Babar Azam bat with Steve Smith during the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) Season 15.

Earlier this month, the Sydney Sixers signed Babar as their direct overseas player for the full season of BBL 15 ahead of the players’ draft.

With Smith expected to be available for parts of the season, the possibility of the two batting together for the first time has cricket fans buzzing.

“How extraordinary,” said Finch while speaking on The Surge: Big Bash Podcast with host Adam White.

“Steve Smith, anytime he’s played in the Big Bash, he’s looked a class above everybody else.

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“Then you throw in probably the most beautiful batter in the world, Babar Azam… I’m sure they’re both looking forward to it as much as we are as fans.”

Aaron Finch believes that instances like these have the power to reignite a fiery sense of motivation, sparking renewed passion within even the most experienced players.

“Steve hasn’t played with Babar before anywhere around the world, so to get that opportunity, they’re the kind of things that keep you going when you’re getting towards the end of your career,” he added.

“I’m not saying for any moment that Steve Smith is towards the end, but as you get on, and you’ve ticked almost every single box, you get a lot of joy out of small things like that.”

READ: Former Indian pacer says Jasprit Bumrah is better than Wasim Akram

Melbourne Stars General Manager Max Abbott has made it clear that retaining Haris Rauf for BBL Season 15 was a top priority, revealing that the franchise fended off strong interest from rival teams to keep the Pakistani speedster on their roster.

In a candid statement following the BBL 15 overseas draft, Abbott confirmed that Adelaide Strikers had targeted Rauf but were forced to back off after the Stars refused to release him.

“Haris Rauf is a fan favourite and a valuable asset to our team,” Abbott said. “We knew other teams were interested in him, but we weren’t willing to let him go.”

Abbott lauded Rauf’s impact beyond the field, calling him a key figure in the dressing room and a role model for younger bowlers.

“He’s not just a match-winner. He’s someone other bowlers learn from. That’s why keeping him was non-negotiable for us,” he stated.

But all eyes are now on the mouth-watering clash against the Sydney Sixers, who have signed Babar Azam as a pre-draft marquee pick. Abbott didn’t shy away from the hype surrounding the Pakistan stars’ face-off.

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“We’re excited to see Haris Rauf take on Babar at the MCG. I’m sure he has a few plans up his sleeve to exploit Babar’s weaknesses,” said Abbott.

He also acknowledged the influence of the Pakistani community in Melbourne, calling Rauf’s popularity a big plus for the team’s fan engagement.

“The Pakistan community is huge here, and it’s great to have their favourite player in the Stars colours. He brings excitement and pride with every appearance.”

Haris Rauf, who is currently featuring in MLC 2025 for the San Francisco Unicorns, has been with the Stars since 2019.

In 22 BBL matches, he has bagged 36 wickets at an economy of 7.75, and remains one of the most dangerous bowlers at the death.

Rauf’s retention comes amid a strong Pakistan presence in BBL 15, with Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan and Hasan Ali all picked up by various franchises during the draft.

READ: Three Pakistani players join Rangpur Riders for Global Super League 2025

LAHORE: Former captain Babar Azam has exited the ongoing Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Skills Development Camp at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) after just two days of training, citing prior international commitments.

The 20-day training camp, organised by the PCB, is being held in three phases and is designed to fine-tune the skills of national cricketers across all formats. A total of 47 players are expected to participate throughout the program.

According to the schedule, Phase 1 of the camp, running from June 16 to 21, features 15 players, including Babar.

However, the 30-year-old batter wrapped up his training early and left for an overseas engagement on Thursday, which sources say had already been communicated to the camp management and PCB prior to his arrival.

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The players in the first phase of the camp include: Aamir Jamal, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Babar Azam, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, and Sufyan Muqeem.

The second phase of the camp is set to begin on June 23, followed by Phase 3 on June 30, with fresh player batches expected to be announced in the coming days.

For the unversed, the Pakistan team is scheduled to tour Bangladesh in July for a three-match T20I series outside of the Future Tours Programme (FTP).

Sources confirm that Pakistan will arrive in Dhaka on July 18, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) having already sent a draft schedule to the PCB for final approval.

READ: National cricketers undergo intense training at PCB’s skills development camp

Former Australia captain Aaron Finch has hailed Pakistan’s top batter Babar Azam as one of ‘greatest players of the decade ahead of his much awaited Big Bash League (BBL) 15 debut.

Speaking during a recent interview, Finch acknowledged Babar’s stature in global cricket.

“There’s no bigger name than Babar Azam among Pakistani players in the BBL draft,” said Finch ahead of BBL 15 draft to be held on 19 June.

The T20 world cup winning captain hailed Babar Azam’s top performances around the world while highlighting his inclusion as a great thing to witness for Australia fans.

“He is the biggest name among all Pakistani cricketers. Babar is currently the best player in world cricket and arguably the greatest player of this decade. He has delivered top performances around the world, and it’s great for Australian fans to witness a superstar like him play in Australia,” Aaron Finch added.

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Apart from Babar, Aaron Finch also talked about ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi who recently clinched third title for Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10.

“Shaheen Shah Afridi is a match-winner and a top performer. Every team would want to have him. I’m excited to see top players competing in the Big Bash,” Finch remarked.

It is noteworthy to mention that, former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has become one of the highest-paid players in BBL history after signing with the Sydney Sixers for the upcoming season.

According to sources, the Sixers have pre-signed Babar in the Platinum category, but the agreement reportedly exceeds the standard base price of PKR 7.75 crore, with his deal valued close to PKR 10 crore.

Babar Azam will be available for the entire BBL 15 season, including the finals, offering the Sydney Sixers not just a big-name signing but a player with proven match-winning ability and composure under pressure.

For the unversed, a total of 74 Pakistani male cricketers and 11 female players have thrown their hats in the ring for the BBL and Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) drafts, scheduled on June 19.

Pakistan’s T20I captain Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Usama Mir, and Mohammad Hasnain are among the notable names to register for the BBL 15 Draft.

READ: Salman Ali Agha nominated for BBL draft as full list of overseas players revealed

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has become one of the highest-paid players in Big Bash League (BBL) history after signing with the Sydney Sixers for the upcoming season 15 of the league.

According to sources, the Sixers have pre-signed Babar in the Platinum category, but the agreement reportedly exceeds the standard base price of PKR 7.75 crore, with his deal valued close to PKR 10 crore.

The Sixers used their option to pre-sign one overseas player ahead of the BBL 15 draft scheduled for June 19, and they made a massive statement by roping in one of world cricket’s most consistent and bankable performers.

The 30-year-old has over 10,000 international runs, is a former ICC Cricketer of the Year, and remains a modern-day great in the white-ball formats.

Babar has captained Pakistan across all three formats from 2019 to 2024, leading the side to the 2021 T20 World Cup semi-final and the 2022 final.

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He holds multiple records, including being the fastest to 5,000 ODI runs (97 innings), and has previously featured in top leagues such as the PSL, CPL, and various English T20 tournaments.

With more than 11,000 runs in T20s, Babar’s presence instantly elevates the Sixers’ campaign.

Babar Azam will be available for the entire BBL 15 season, including the finals, offering the Sydney Sixers not just a big-name signing but a player with proven match-winning ability and composure under pressure.

It’s worth noting that a total of 74 Pakistani male cricketers and 11 female players have thrown their hats in the ring for the BBL and Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) drafts, scheduled on June 19.

Pakistan’s T20I captain Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Haris, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf, Usama Mir, and Mohammad Hasnain are among the notable names to register for the BBL 15 Draft.

READ: Arshad Nadeem makes Forbes ‘30 Under 30’ South Asia list

LAHORE: The director of the national high-performance centre (NHPC) Aqib Javed has shed light on the inclusion of Pakistan’s ace batter Babar Azam in the national T20 team.

Speaking to the media in Punjab’s capital, Aqib linked Babar Azam return to the Pakistan team with performance, noting that any player who performs could return to the side.

“Whether it’s Babar or any other player, the game is open to everyone. If Babar or anyone else performs well, they will earn their place, and anyone can move up through performance,” he said.

He further added that players are smart enough to understand their places in certain formats, and they must ensure that they are well-prepared for various hurdles.

“Players are aware of which format they fit into. There are numerous challenges for them, and they must be prepared to face them.”

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The former coach spoke about Pakistan’s ODI captain, Mohammad Rizwan, stating that they have worked together and dismissed any conflicts between them.

Ahead of the new ICC World Test Championship (WTC)cycle, Aqib Javed announced the commencement of white and red-ball training camps.

“Coach Mike Hesson feels the need to work with this larger group. A white-ball camp will also be held in July, so white-ball cricketers are included in this larger camp.

“After the larger group, we will have separate camps for white-ball and red-ball formats. The red-ball camp will help us in the series against South Africa,” he said.

Along with camps, Aqib announced the revival of high-performance centres.

“There will be a women’s high-performance centre at the Karachi academy. The Sialkot academy will focus on Under-13 players, Faisalabad on Under-17 players, and Multan on Under-19 players. The National Cricket Academy will work with national-level players,” Aqib Javed concluded.

READ: Aqib Javed clears the air on rift with Mohammad Rizwan

England wicketkeeper batter Sam Billings has heaped high praise on Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam, calling him ‘king’ ahead of the much-awaited Big Bash League (BBL) 15. 

While speaking on the tournament’s official page, Sam Billings called Babar Azam the king while emphasising the importance of his addition to the league.

“He is King Babar Azam, as they call him. He’s been such a world-class performer for such a long time. Any competition featuring a player like Babar Azam benefits not only the Sixers, as you said, but the tournament as a whole,” Sam Billings said.

“I’ve played a lot against him, and I’d much rather have him on my side than against me. I’m definitely looking forward to those Sydney derbies again,” Sam Billings added.

For the unversed, Pakistan’s batting superstar Babar Azam was signed by the Sydney Sixers a few days earlier. The franchise called the signing ‘one of the biggest acquisitions in the league’s history’.

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Following the announcement of the signing, Babar expressed his gratitude for joining the Sydney Sixers franchise.

“I’m very proud to be joining the Sydney Sixers for the upcoming season,” Babar 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,” he added.

The right-handed batter also expressed his joy at sharing the dressing room with the biggest names in world cricket.

“I’m very excited to share the dressing room with world-class players like Steve Smith and Josh Hazlewood,” he remarked.

Babar Azam stated that he is eagerly waiting for BBL 15.

“I’ve played a lot of cricket in Australia, but I’ve been eagerly waiting for a chance to feature in the BBL,” he concluded.

READ: Pakistan batter signs with Yorkshire for County Championship, Vitality Blast

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Skills Development Camp kicked off in Lahore on Monday, with prominent national stars including Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan actively participating on day one.

The camp, being held at the LCCA Ground under the supervision of National Cricket Academy (NCA) coaches, is structured in three phases.

The opening phase features 15 players and is focused on fine-tuning skills in fielding, batting, and fitness.

The first session of the day began with high-intensity fielding drills, where both Babar and Rizwan were seen leading from the front.

Batting coach Hanif Malik, alongside other NCA coaches, conducted technical batting sessions aimed at refining players’ technique and shot selection. Gym work and strength training were also part of the routine.

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According to a PCB spokesperson, the primary objective of the camp is to enhance individual skill levels and prepare players for upcoming domestic and international assignments.

The players attending the first phase include: Aamir Jamal, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Babar Azam, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, and Sufyan Muqeem.

The afternoon session on Day 1 focused on bowling and fielding-specific drills, ensuring a comprehensive workload for the participants.

The second and third phases of the camp will begin on June 23 and June 30, respectively, with additional players expected to join.

PCB officials say this initiative is part of a broader strategy to invest in long-term player development through consistent, skill-based training and proper fitness management, aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s talent pool.

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