Tag: BBL 15

All-rounder Shadab Khan has announced that he will not be returning to Sydney Thunder for the remainder of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15.

Shadab was due to return to Australia after joining the Pakistan squad for the three-match T20I series.

However, the leg-spinner has confirmed not returning to the league in a social media message.

“Thank you to Sydney Thunders for having me. I had a great time with the group. We couldn’t quite get over the line this time, but I enjoyed every moment of the journey and would love to go further in the future,” he wrote.

“A big thank you to the players, management, and support staff for the support throughout. May you all have a great year ahead,” Shadab said.

While the exact reason has not been confirmed, it is widely understood that the T20 World Cup 2026 approaching and Sydney Thunder already eliminated from the competition with one fixture remaining, Shadab has opted not to return.

Overall, Shadab Khan played six matches for Sydney Thunder, picking up seven wickets and scoring 104 runs.

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The all-rounder made an impressive comeback for Pakistan in the T20I series opener against Sri Lanka, earning the player of the match award for all-around performance.

He remained instrumental in the team’s success, picking up two wickets in his four overs, backing it with an unbeaten 18 off 12 balls, which guided his side home in the run chase.

For the unversed, the series against Sri Lanka was Shadab’s first appearance for Pakistan since June 2025.

The 27-year-old subsequently underwent surgery on his right shoulder in England on July 5, following multiple consultations due to persistent discomfort.

The surgery eventually ruled him out of several key assignments for Pakistan, including the Asia Cup 2025.

Shadab returned to competitive cricket with his appearance for Sydney Thunder during the ongoing BBL 15.

READ: USA pacer Ali Khan posts cryptic message amid World Cup visa row

SYDNEY: Wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan became Pakistan’s first player to be retired out in T20 cricket during the 33rd fixture of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 between Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Thunder.

Rizwan scored a sluggish 26 from 23 balls with the help of two fours and a six before Renegades skipper Will Sutherland called the batter back to the pavilion.

At this stage, Renegades were 154-5 at the end of the 18th over.

The video set social media abuzz with fans questioning the decision to retire Rizwan.

Notably, Rizwan also became the first overseas batter in the ongoing tournament to be retired out.

Overall, Mohammad Rizwan is going through a horror run in the BBL 15, scoring 167 runs in eight matches at a modest average of 20.87, with a strike rate of 101.82.

 

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Nonetheless, Melbourne Renegades eventually managed to put on a show with the bat as they racked up 170/8 at the end of their allotted 20 overs.

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Hassan Khan remained the star batter as he hit four sixes and a boundary on his way to 46 from 31 balls.

For Sydney Thunder, Wes Agar, Ryan Hadley, and David Willey picked up two wickets each.

In reply, Sydney Thunder scored 140-5 in 15.2 overs before rain arrived, which handed them a four-wicket victory as per the DLS method.

Nic Maddinson and Chris Green starred with the bat, particularly the latter, scoring an unbeaten 34 from 13 balls with the aid of three sixes and three fours.

For Melbourne Renegades, it was Gurinder Sandhu again with the ball as he picked up his third fourth-wicket haul of the tournament.

READ: Parvez Hossain Emon guides Sylhet Titans to victory over Rangpur Riders

Sam Harper and Thomas Rogers struck commanding half-centuries as Melbourne Stars cruised to a dominant win over the Renegades in the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 derby at Docklands Stadium on Saturday.

Stars captain Marcus Stoinis won the toss and opted to bowl, a decision that paid dividends early when Tom Curran removed in-form opener Tim Seifert for three in the second over.

Josh Brown attempted to anchor the Renegades innings and kept the scoreboard ticking despite wickets falling at regular intervals.

Hassan Khan and Mohammad Rizwan offered brief resistance with 23 and 21, respectively, but Brown remained the lone bright spot before he was trapped lbw by Peter Siddle in the 18th over.

Brown top-scored with a fighting 80 off 50 balls, which included seven fours and four sixes, as the Renegades posted 166-7 in their 20 overs.

Stoinis led the bowling effort with three wickets, while Haris Rauf claimed two. Curran and Siddle chipped in with one apiece to keep the Renegades in check.

In reply, the Stars made a flying start through Harper and Rogers, who added 84 runs in just 45 balls for the opening wicket.

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Rogers played the aggressor, smashing a rapid 53 off 24 deliveries, featuring four fours and four sixes, before a mix-up led to his dismissal.

Campbell Kellaway’s stay was short-lived, and his departure brought Glenn Maxwell to the crease.

Maxwell combined with Harper in an unbroken 78-run partnership that took the game away from the Renegades.

Harper anchored the chase with an unbeaten 84 off 51 balls, striking eight fours and four sixes, as the Stars sealed an eight-wicket victory with 25 balls to spare.

The result lifted Melbourne Stars from third to second place on the BBL 15 points table, strengthening their push for a playoff berth.

The Renegades, meanwhile, remained seventh despite suffering defeat after back-to-back wins. While their position leaves little margin for error, they are still mathematically in contention heading into their remaining fixtures.

READ: Final squads announced for ICC U19 World Cup 2026

BRISBANE: Recently retired Usman Khawaja marked his return to the Big Bash League (BBL) in style, producing a commanding knock to lead Brisbane Heat to a dominant victory over bottom-placed Sydney Thunder at The Gabba on Saturday.

The win kept the Heat firmly in the playoff hunt. Starting the day seventh on the BBL 15 points table, the home side climbed to fifth with the crucial result, while Thunder’s miserable campaign continued as they remained rooted to the bottom.

Thunder captain David Warner won the toss and opted to bat, becoming the first skipper to do so this season. He justified the decision with a fluent innings at the top, even as his side lost early wickets and slipped to 49-2 inside seven overs.

Warner found solid support in Sam Billings, with the pair adding 84 runs from 50 balls for the third wicket.

Warner dominated the stand with aggressive stroke play before his innings ended via a run-out. He top-scored for Thunder with 82 off 56 balls, laced with eight fours and three sixes.

Billings followed soon after, scoring 34 off 26, while Nic Maddinson added a quick 21 off 14.

However, Thunder failed to capitalise in the latter stages and were restricted to 180-6 in their allotted 20 overs.

Matt Renshaw picked up two wickets for Heat, with Xavier Bartlett, Matthew Kuhnemann and Thomas Balington claiming one apiece.

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In reply, Brisbane Heat came out firing as Jack Wildermuth and captain Usman Khawaja smashed 57 runs in just 23 balls to give the chase early momentum.

Daniel Sams broke the opening stand by dismissing Wildermuth, who hammered 39 off 15 deliveries, including three sixes and four fours.

Nathan McSweeney made a brief stay, scoring 12 off 10, before Khawaja combined with Renshaw to put the result beyond doubt. The duo added 93 runs from 56 balls for the third wicket in a decisive partnership.

Khawaja fell with only five runs required, denied a match-winning finish, but he had already done the damage with a superb 78 off 48 balls, featuring ten boundaries, seven fours and three sixes.

Renshaw remained unbeaten on 42 off 26, while Max Bryant sealed the win in emphatic fashion by smashing the first ball he faced for a six, as Heat crossed the line with 22 balls to spare.

For Thunder, Wes Agar, Daniel Sams and Chris Green picked up one wicket each, but the bowlers were unable to halt Heat’s charge on the night.

READ: Martin Guptill ‘excited’ after Kingsmen acquire PSL new team

MELBOURNE: Melbourne Stars skipper Marcus Stoinis did not mince words before trapping Sydney Sixers opener Babar Azam in the 27th match of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday.

Sixers chased down a partly target of 129, losing four wickets in the process with 17 balls to spare.

Josh Philippe remained the top scorer with 35 from 25 balls, striking two fours and the same number of sixes.

For Melbourne Stars, Haris Rauf picked up one wicket, whereas Stoinis scalped two wickets in his quota of four overs.

However, their star overseas batter Babar faltered again as he managed to score 14 off 17 balls with the help of a single boundary.

 

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Interestingly, he was trapped lbw by pacer Marcus Stoinis on the third ball of the sixth over.

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The right-arm pacer bowled a full and straight delivery on the stumps as Babar closed the face of the bat early and missed the line and length.

Following the conclusion of the match, Stoinis revealed his words to Babar Azam before getting him trapped on the crease.

“It’s good to know those stump mics are on,” Stoinis said in a light-hearted manner after the match.

Nonetheless, Babar’s struggle continued in BBL 15, as he is yet to make his mark.

The right-hander has so far scored 145 runs in seven matches at an average of 24.16 with the help of two half-centuries.

READ: Ali Tareen reveals reason for not participating in PSL teams auction

Fresh off a dominant 4-1 Ashes triumph over England, Australian stars Mitchell Starc and Steve Smith are set to shift their focus to the Big Bash League (BBL), where they will join Pakistan superstar Babar Azam at the Sydney Sixers.

Both Starc and Smith confirmed their availability for the Sixers during Australia’s post-match press conference following the fifth Ashes Test, with several other Ashes-winning players also expected to feature in the ongoing Big Bash season.

For Starc, the return carries added significance as it will mark his first appearance for the Sixers since BBL 04, having featured in overall ten matches across four seasons.

Smith, meanwhile, is set to feature in his fourth consecutive Big Bash campaign, having delivered memorable performances in recent seasons, including an unbeaten 121 against the Perth Scorchers last year.

Starc capped off a sensational Ashes series by claiming the Compton-Miller Medal as Player of the Series, courtesy of 31 wickets and a vital 156 runs across five Tests.

Speaking after the series, the left-arm quick made it clear that the Big Bash is now his immediate priority.

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“I’m certainly not looking two years down the road just yet,” Mitchell Starc said when asked about the 2027 Ashes in England.

“I’ll pull on the magenta with the man [Smith] next to me. We’ll see if we can help the Sixers get to another final. Other than the BBL, I haven’t got too many plans other than a bit of golf.”

Starc, who retired from T20Is in October to manage his workload and extend his Test career, could make his Sixers return as early as Sunday, January 11, when Sydney face the Hobart Hurricanes at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

The timing of their arrival could prove crucial for the Sixers, who currently sit fourth on the BBL 15 points table with three wins and three losses.

Despite securing the services of global star Babar Azam, the Sixers are yet to fully hit top gear this season.

They most recently edged past Brisbane Heat in a low-scoring thriller at Coffs Harbour, chasing down just 115 to stay in the top-four hunt.

READ: Shaheen Afridi fires warning to India ahead of T20 World Cup clash

PERTH: Oliver Peake hit a last-ball six to seal a thrilling victory for Melbourne Renegades over Perth Scorchers in the 26th fixture of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 here at the Perth Stadium on Wednesday.

Set 128, Renegades hit the winning runs on the last ball of the final over with four wickets in hand.

Tim Seifert and Josh Brown added 26 for the opening wicket partnership before a middle-overs collapse left them tottering at 72-5 in 12.3 overs.

Mohammad Rizwan could not get going as his sluggish 21 from 25 balls ended in the 10th over,

Nonetheless, it was Oliver Peake’s brilliant knock that held the Renegades innings together.

The 19-year-old partnered with skipper Will Sutherland for a 42-run partnership that brought the score to 114 in 18.3 overs.

Sutherland made 15 off 18 balls with the help of a six.

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With 10 required of the last six deliveries, Aaron Hardie had the ball in his hands. Peake took a double on the first two balls, which was followed by two singles and another double run.

With four needed off the final ball, Peake launched a six over covers to win it for his side.

He remained unbeaten on 42 from 30 balls with the aid of a single boundary and four fours.

For Perth Scorchers, David Payne, Jhye Richardson, and Joel Paris scalped one wicket apiece.

Earlier, put into bat first, Gurinder Sandhu led the bowling attack skittled Perth Scorchers for 127 in 19.2 overs.

The Scorchers’ innings started on a shaky note as Finn Allen and Cooper Connolly were dismissed in a cheap manner.

Mitchell Marsh was also sent back for 27, leaving Perth Scorchers 49 for 3 in 7.3 overs.

Wickets continued to tumble in the middle overs with Aaron Hardie remaining the highest scorer for his side. He made 44 off 40 balls with the aid of four boundaries and a six.

Gurinder Sandhu starred with the ball as he picked up his consecutive four-wicket haul. Hassan Khan supported him well with two wickets in his four overs.

READ: ICC considering Bangladesh request over T20 World Cup games in India

ADELAIDE: David Warner’s valiant unbeaten half-century went in vain as Adelaide Strikers edged out Sydney Thunder by six runs in a tense Big Bash League (BBL) 15 encounter at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday, ending the visitors’  playoff hopes.

After winning the toss, Warner opted to field, a decision that initially paid dividends as Sydney Thunder struck early to leave the Strikers wobbling at 19-2 inside the first two overs.

However, wicketkeeper-batter Mackenzie Harvey and Jason Sangha steadied the innings with a crucial 68-run stand for the third wicket.

Sangha was the first to depart after scoring 31 off 23 deliveries, while Harvey followed soon after with a composed 38 off 34 balls.

From there, Liam Scott anchored the lower-middle order with an unbeaten 49 off 32 balls, striking seven boundaries to lift Adelaide Strikers to a competitive 165-8 in their 20 overs.

Wes Agar was the standout bowler for Thunder with three wickets, while Nathan McAndrew picked up two.

Chasing 166, Sydney Thunder got off to a promising start through a fluent 73-run opening partnership between David Warner and Matthew Gilkes.

The stand was broken by Jamie Overton, who dismissed Gilkes for 43 off 33 balls, an innings laced with four fours and two sixes.

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Warner continued to battle at one end but found limited support as wickets fell regularly.

Nic Maddinson provided a brief spark with a brisk 21 off 14 balls before becoming Overton’s second victim.

With 44 required off the final four overs, Thunder remained in the hunt, largely due to Warner’s presence at the crease.

The equation came down to 13 runs off the final over, bowled by Luke Wood, but he restricted Thunder to just six runs.

Warner finished unbeaten on 67 off 51 balls, including eight boundaries and a six, but it was not enough to drag his side over the line.

Jamie Overton was named Player of the Match for his decisive three-wicket haul, while Lloyd Pope chipped in with two scalps.

The defeat leaves Sydney Thunder rooted to the bottom of the BBL 15 standings with just one win from seven matches.

Adelaide Strikers, meanwhile, climbed to fifth place with three victories from six games, keeping their playoff ambitions alive.

READ: Key player returns as Sri Lanka name squad for Pakistan T20Is

COFFS HARBOUR: Babar Azam failed to make his mark again as Joel Davies and Hayden Kerr’s crucial partnership helped Sydney Sixers edge past Brisbane Heat by three wickets in the 24th fixture of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15.

Set only 115 here at the International Sports Stadium in a low-scoring encounter, Sixers stumbled in the chase before they got over the line on the fourth ball of the 18th over.

Oli Patterson inflicted a poor start on the Sixers with back-to-back wickets in the third over. Babar was the first to go for two while Josh Philippe † followed him after for a duck, leaving the side 15-2.

After early blows, skipper Moises Henriques and Daniel Hughes tried to steady the innings with a brief 17-run partnership. However, Xavier Bartlett removed Daniel Hughes for 15 to put Heat in command.

Brisbane Heat continued to mount pressure with clinical bowling, which reaped high rewards in the form of Jordan Silk (6) and Jack Edwards (0) wickets, both getting dismissed in the same over.

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The Sixers were further in dire straits as Henriques and Ben Manenti were also sent back to the pavilion. As a result, Sydney Sixers were 56-7 in 10.3 overs.

With Brisbane Heat in a dominant position, Joel Davies and Hayden Kerr batted with responsibility, stitching an unbeaten 62* run partnership that propelled them to victory.

Davies hit three fours and a six on his way to 35 from 26, whereas Kerr struck a six and a four in his 27* from 25 balls.

For Brisbane Heat, Oli Patterson and Matthew Kuhnemann shared four wickets each. Xavier Bartlett, Jack Wildermuth, and Matt Renshaw picked up one each.

Earlier, put into bat first, Sydney Sixers bowlers demonstrated an excellent bowling display, limiting the opposition to 114-9 at the end of their 20 overs.

Jack Wildermuth and Lachlan Hearne provided a brisk start of 27 runs in three overs before Sean Abbott and Jack Edwards combined to send back both batters in successive overs.

Wildermuth was looking dangerous with 31 off 17, striking two fours and two sixes. Hearne could only add one to the total.

With Heat 33-2 in four overs, with inform Matt Renshaw and Max Bryant at the helm. But Sixers bowlers did not allow them to free their hands.

The former and latter were sent packing in the span of two overs for two and three runs respectively.

Nonetheless, Hugh Weibgen top-scored with 24 from 25 balls with the help of a boundary that took the Heat’s score over the 100-run mark.

Eventually, the whole team was limited to a below-par score at the end of their innings.

Matthew Kuhnemann and Oli Patterson were the notable contributors with the ball as they took two wickets each.

READ: Second group of Pakistan squad departs for Sri Lanka

Brisbane Heat have strengthened their bowling resources for the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) 15 by signing Pakistan fast bowler Zaman Khan as an international replacement for the injured Shaheen Shah Afridi.

The 24-year-old right-arm pacer has received clearance from the BBL Technical Committee and is set to be available for the Heat’s fixture against Sydney Thunder at the Gabba on Saturday.

The match will see Zaman come up against his former franchise, having previously represented the Thunder during BBL 13.

Known for his distinctive slingy action and effectiveness at the death, Zaman featured in four matches for Sydney Thunder, claiming eight wickets at an impressive average of 16.38.

 

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Since making his international debut in 2023, he has gone on to represent Pakistan in 10 T20 Internationals and one One-Day International, picking up seven wickets across formats.

Zaman Khan arrives in Australia in good rhythm, having recently made an impact in the Abu Dhabi T10, where he grabbed a hat-trick in his opening match of the tournament.

He also brings experience from multiple leagues around the world, including the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he plays under Shaheen Afridi at Lahore Qalandars, and England’s The Hundred, where he turned out for Manchester Originals.

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Brisbane Heat head coach Johan Botha expressed confidence that Zaman’s inclusion would add a cutting edge to the bowling unit as the tournament reaches a crucial phase.

“He’s a genuine wicket-taker up front, but he can also control an over with his variations and pace,” Botha said.

“He complements our attack nicely and gives us additional options in the key bowling periods. Zaman was a handful when he first came on the scene and has continued to evolve his game.”

READ: Second group of Pakistan squad departs for Sri Lanka