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Babar Azam

Babar Azam leaves BBL early to join Pakistan squad

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Babar Azam leaves BBL

LAHORE:Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam has concluded his stint in Australia’s Big Bash League as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) called him back to prepare for the upcoming T20 series against Australia. He will no longer be available for the remaining matches with the Sydney Sixers.

PCB officials confirmed that Babar’s early return was due to his national duties, and he is expected to report to the Pakistan team’s training camp shortly.

Speaking on his departure, Babar said, “It has been a great experience playing for the Sydney Sixers. I am grateful for the love and support of the fans. Now it’s time to focus on my national duties. Playing in the Big Bash has taught me a lot, and the memories will always stay with me.”

He added that he would continue to support the Sydney Sixers in their upcoming matches.

During his 11-match stint, Babar scored 202 runs, including 19 fours and 3 sixes. With his departure, all Pakistani players have now exited this season of the Big Bash League.

Shaheen Afridi excited to play in Australia’s Big Bash League

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Shaheen Afridi

Brisbane: Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has expressed his excitement about playing in the Australian Big Bash League (BBL), representing Brisbane Heat.

In a recent interview, Afridi said that Australia has a large number of Pakistani fans, and many Pakistani cricketers are already participating in the league.

 He added that he has not had the opportunity to play in the BBL for a few years, but is now eager to take part, with no national duties during the league period. “I hope to get the chance to play the full season,” he said.

Afridi also spoke about his teammates in the Pakistan national team and PSL, mentioning that he has played alongside Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam for several years.

He praised Babar Azam as a world-class player who has scored numerous runs for Pakistan, highlighting Babar’s preference for strike rotation and his elegant cover drives.

On Mohammad Rizwan, Afridi noted that he prefers fast bowling and bats differently from Babar, but both players have consistently delivered strong performances for Pakistan. He added that net practice sessions often feel like real matches when facing them.

Reflecting on his experience in Brisbane, Afridi said he has played international matches at The Gabba, noting the pitch offers significant bounce, unlike the flatter pitches he expects in the BBL.

Afridi also shared insights on leadership, revealing that he had not captained in domestic cricket before joining the Pakistan Super League. He credited Thameem Rana for guidance, stating that leadership should be calm and not authoritative, as being overly harsh does not create a good impression.

PSL promotion drive held at Lord’s to attract new investment

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PSL promotion

LONDON: A promotional roadshow for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was organised at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London to enhance global outreach and invite fresh investment into the league.

The event aimed to highlight PSL’s vision, commercial model, and future strategy. Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam, along with other national cricketers, attended the roadshow, while Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi was also present and briefed participants about the league’s structure and future prospects.

The PSL continues to gain popularity internationally and is among the most-searched sports events on Google, even drawing strong traction from India.

HBL PSL is recognised as one of the fastest growing T20 leagues in world cricket.

Babar Azam breaks Shahid Afridi’s international catch record

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Babar Azam

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has achieved yet another milestone, surpassing former star all-rounder Shahid Afridi to become the Pakistani player with the most catches in international matches.

Babar Azam reached this landmark during the final of the tri-nation T20 series against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi, where he took the catch of Kusal Mendis. In the final match, he took three catches, bringing his total to 170 international catches, surpassing Shahid Afridi’s 167.

In the all-time list, former captain Younis Khan remains at the top with 281 catches, followed by former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq with 194 catches. Shahid Afridi, who previously held the record, has now moved down the rankings.

Additionally, Babar Azam became Pakistan’s leading fielder in T20 internationals by taking three catches in the same final, bringing his total to 60 catches in T20s. He surpassed Fakhar Zaman, who has 57 catches, while Shoaib Malik holds the third spot with 50 catches.

Babar Azam joins Saeed Anwar at top with 20 ODI centuries

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Babar Azam

Babar Azam joins Saeed Anwar at top with 20 ODI centuries

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam has written his name into the history books by equaling the national record for most ODI centuries by a Pakistani player.

In the second ODI against Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Azam struck a superb 102 off 119 balls, matching Saeed Anwar’s long-standing record of 20 ODI hundreds.

Babar reached this milestone in just 136 innings, placing him among the fastest to reach 20 ODI centuries.

 South Africa’s Hashim Amla tops the list with 108 innings, followed by India’s Virat Kohli, who achieved it in 133 innings. In contrast, Saeed Anwar had needed 244 innings to complete his 20 hundreds.

Azam’s latest century serves as a major morale boost for Pakistan cricket and further strengthens his status as one of the premier batsmen in world cricket today.

Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam has chosen not to engage with critics who questioned his form over the past two years, stating that his job is to play cricket and deliver on the field. He emphasised that his complete focus remains on performance rather than responding to criticism.

Speaking at a press conference after Pakistan’s impressive victory in the second ODI against Sri Lanka, Babar said that although the last two years were challenging, he worked hard on his fitness, batting, and fielding. “Whenever difficult times come, you must trust yourself,” he added.

Babar acknowledged the support he received from fans during tough phases, saying their encouragement gave him great confidence. He said he batted according to the team’s plan, and scoring a century helped restore his self-belief. “I trusted myself to score a hundred,” he noted.

Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the second match of the three-match ODI series.

Babar is now the third-fastest player in the world to score 20 ODI centuries in the fewest innings.