BBL: Babar Azam flops again as nightmare deepens; proving Smith's call spot on

Babar Azam’s hard tally successful the 2025–26 Big Bash League showed nary signs of easing arsenic the Pakistan prima endured different debased instrumentality successful Sydney Sixers’ must-win clash against Brisbane Heat astatine the Gabba connected Sunday, January 18. Opening the batting erstwhile again alongside Steve Smith, Babar struggled from the outset portion chasing a people of 172. On a aboveground offering aboriginal movement, helium looked abbreviated of bushed and confidence, managing conscionable 1 tally from 7 deliveries earlier edging Australian speedy Xavier Bartlett successful the 2nd over. It was different aboriginal exit that summed up his tourney truthful far.

The innings came successful the shadiness of the contention from Sixers’ erstwhile lucifer against Sydney Thunder, wherever Babar’s attack astatine the apical had drawn disapproval contempt the squad winning by 5 wickets.

In that game, Smith blazed his mode to a 41-ball period arsenic the brace added 141 for the archetypal wicket. Babar, however, scored 47 disconnected 39 balls, with his onslaught complaint becoming a talking point. Tension was disposable during that concern when, successful the 11th over, Smith turned down a azygous aft Babar had played 3 consecutive dot balls. Keen to instrumentality complaint during the Power Surge, Smith kept the onslaught and made the determination number by smashing 32 runs disconnected Ryan Hadley successful the adjacent over, the astir runs ever scored successful a azygous implicit successful the league’s 15-year history.

Babar appeared unhappy astatine the clip and, aft being dismissed disconnected the precise adjacent shot helium faced, walked backmost angrily, striking the bound cushion with his bat. Sunday’s nonaccomplishment did small to fortify Babar’s case. His numbers crossed the tourney overgarment a worrying picture. From 10 matches, helium has scored 202 runs astatine an mean of 25.26 and a onslaught complaint of 104.12. Among batters who person faced astatine slightest 100 balls this season, lone Cameron Bancroft and Mohammad Rizwan person scored astatine a slower rate. Despite Babar’s struggles, the Sixers got the occupation done. Brisbane Heat posted 171 for 9 aft being sent in, with Nathan McSweeney top-scoring with an unbeaten 69 disconnected 54 balls. Mitchell Starc led the bowling effort for Sydney with an awesome four-wicket haul, portion Sam Curran chipped successful with 2 wickets. In the chase, Steve Smith steadied the innings with 54 disconnected 40 balls, earlier Sam Curran produced a match-winning unbeaten 53 disconnected 27 deliveries. The Sixers reached the people successful 18.4 overs to seal a five-wicket win, with Curran named Player of the Match. The triumph booked Sydney Sixers a spot successful the archetypal qualifier against Perth Scorchers astatine Perth Stadium connected January 20. For Babar Azam, though, questions astir signifier and tempo successful the Big Bash League proceed to grow.