Former Australian batter Mark Waugh called for the Sixers to show some “tough love” and drop Pakistan champion Babar Azam for Friday’s must-win Challenger against the Hobart Hurricanes at the SCG.
But the Sydney side won’t have to make that call, with the BBL revealing Azam will return to Pakistan to “commence preparations for upcoming international matches”.
Pakistan are yet to name their squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, while they also have a three-game T20 series at home starting on January 29 — six days after the Hurricanes clash and four days after a potential BBL final appearance.
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“Thank you so much, Sydney Sixers, for having me,” Babar said in a video released by the team, giving no hint that his exit was due to form or recent drama.
“All the boys, all the coaches, I’ve very much enjoyed my time here and unfortunately I have to leave the team because of national duty.
“A lot of things I’ll take back home. A lot of fun, a lot of positive things, so I’ve enjoyed it a lot.”
Azam’s departure comes after he came under scrutiny following last week’s Sydney Smash against the Thunder at the SCG, when during the run chase, opening partner Steve Smith rejected an easy single to ensure he was on strike for the first over of the Power Surge. The Australian’s decision paid dividends when he thumped 32 runs against Thunder seamer Ryan Hadley the following over, a Big Bash record.
Azam, having been denied a run, smacked his bat against the boundary rope when he was dismissed the following over for 47 from 39 balls, having combined with Smith for a 141-run opening partnership, a club record. He allegedly didn’t join his teammates on the field to shake hands with the opposition after the match.
“It took a couple of days for that to settle down,” Sixers captain Moises Henriques explained to Fox Cricket on Tuesday.
“To be honest, I think it’s just a bit of a misunderstanding of culture, of each other.
“It’s a pretty common thing in our culture and maybe for (Azam) he wasn’t used to it, didn’t quite understand.
“Once it was explained to him, he was absolutely fine.
“They’ve kissed and made up. Two of the greats back friendly again.”
Having lost Tuesday’s Qualifier against the Perth Scorchers, the Sixers will need to topple reigning champions the Hobart Hurricanes to book their spot in Sunday’s tournament decider in the West Australian capital.
Took a couple of days to settle down | 01:07
Azam, the club’s marquee overseas signing on a $420,000 platinum contract, is the leading run-scorer in T20I history, while he’s renowned as one of Pakistan’s greatest cricketers of the modern era.
However, the elegant right-hander was dropped from Pakistan’s T20 team last year due to a sluggish strike rate in the game’s shortest format, missing selection in the recent Asia Cup.
Azam got his maiden Big Bash campaign off to a promising start by cracking fifties during the Sixers’ wins over the Sydney Thunder in December and the Melbourne Renegades on New Year’s Day.
However, the 31-year-old has been dismissed for single figures on six occasions across 11 matches, accumulating 202 runs at 22.44. He has only cleared the boundary rope three times throughout the T20 tournament.
Azam’s series strike rate of 103.06 is the lowest in Big Bash history among players that have scored at least 200 runs.
Lowest strike rate in a BBL season
103.06 — Babar Azam (SS), BBL|15
105.21 — Nathan McSweeney (BH), BBL|13
106.04 — Jonathan Wells (AS), BBL|10
106.25 — Alex Ross (BH), BBL|06
107.03 — Jake Weatherald (AS), BBL|11
* Minimum 200 runs
Speaking to Fox Cricket on Wednesday evening, Waugh encouraged the Sixers to recall either opener Daniel Hughes or experienced middle-order batter Jordan Silk at the expense of Azam for Friday’s Challenger in Sydney.
“They need to rejiggle their batting, because at the moment it’s almost entirely reliant on Steve Smith,” Waugh said.
“Sam Curran got them out of jail in another game — he’s gone.
“There’s not a lot of players in form, so I’m bringing in either Hughes or Silk.
“Unfortunately I’m going to have to drop Babar Azam, I don’t think he’s done enough at the top of the order. I know he’s world-class, but you’re thinking about winning this tournament, and so far he just hasn’t done (enough).
“I’m thinking about a new opener.”
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