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Will Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan look back at their BBL 15 participation as a huge mistake?
- Thread starter BouncerGuy
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Pakistan's Babar to miss Sixers' sudden-death BBL final
Sixers opener recalled immediately by his country ahead of T20 series against Australia
Pakistan star Babar Azam will miss Friday's do-or-die KFC BBL|15 Challenger final for the Sydney Sixers after being recalled by his country immediately ahead of their series against Australia next week.
It means Babar will be absent for the rest of the Sixers' finals campaign should they beat Hobart at the SCG to set up a rematch with the Scorchers in Sunday's BBL Final in Perth.
Pakistan are yet to announce their squad for next month's T20 World Cup but face the Aussies in three 20-over internationals in Lahore from next Friday as a precursor to the global tournament.
In a statement this afternoon, Babar thanked Sixers fans, coaches and players for their support during his time with the club.
"I have very (much) enjoyed my time," he said. "Unfortunately, I will now have to leave the team, to go to the national duty.
"I have a lot of things I have to take back home – a lot of fun, a lot of positive things, so I have enjoyed it a lot.
"Especially, thank you to the Sydney Sixers fans; there is always support there, lot of support, lot of encourage(ment), a lot of fun, so I have very enjoyed that vibe at Sydney Cricket Ground, so thank you so much."
Babar (4,429 runs) is the all-time leading scorer in men's T20Is after overtaking India's Rohit Sharma during Pakistan's series against South Africa in November, but he hasn't been able to reach the same heights in his first stint in the Big Bash.
The Sixers are the only team with a Pakistani player still alive in BBL|15 and Babar's early departure perhaps eases a selection conundrum ahead of their clash with the Hurricanes.
While the 31-year-old has scored two half-centuries in his 202 runs opening the batting, his tournament strike rate of 103 is well below that of his teammates and opening partner's Steve Smith (172) and Daniel Hughes (129).
Babar has only hit three sixes and his tournament strike rate is the lowest in Big Bash history among players to have scored more than 200 runs in a season.
Commentator and former Australian batter Mark Waugh called for the Sixers to drop Babar when speaking on Fox Cricket prior to Wednesday's Hurricanes-Stars Knockout match.
"They need to rejiggle their batting, because at the moment it's almost entirely reliant on Steve Smith," Waugh said.
"At the moment there's not a lot of players in form, so I'm bringing in either (Daniel) Hughes or (Jordan) 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."
Veteran left-hander Hughes would be a direct swap at the top of the order having hit 60 earlier in the tournament opening alongside Babar, while captain Moises Henriques could also shift up to the top like he did against Stars on January 8 if the Sixers wanted to get Silk back in the middle order.
Both Hughes and Silk played in the Sixers most recent BBL title wins in BBL|09 and |10.
But like Perth Scorchers have done this season in backing their younger players such Mahli Beardman, Brody Coucy and Cooper Connolly, the Sixers also appear to have entrusted their next generation with greater responsibility with young guns Lachy Shaw, Joel Davies and Jack Edwards getting consistent game time.
"It's an exciting opportunity," Edwards said at the SCG today, "(we're) seeing the future that's there in Joel Davies and Lachy Shaw.
"We got thrown in the deep end the other night (in the Qualifier loss to the Scorchers) and didn't quite handle as well as we could have. But it's a learning opportunity and all we can do is take something away from it, try and get better and if we get put in that situation tomorrow night, hopefully we can take it."
www.cricket.com.au
Sixers opener recalled immediately by his country ahead of T20 series against Australia
Pakistan star Babar Azam will miss Friday's do-or-die KFC BBL|15 Challenger final for the Sydney Sixers after being recalled by his country immediately ahead of their series against Australia next week.
It means Babar will be absent for the rest of the Sixers' finals campaign should they beat Hobart at the SCG to set up a rematch with the Scorchers in Sunday's BBL Final in Perth.
Pakistan are yet to announce their squad for next month's T20 World Cup but face the Aussies in three 20-over internationals in Lahore from next Friday as a precursor to the global tournament.
In a statement this afternoon, Babar thanked Sixers fans, coaches and players for their support during his time with the club.
"I have very (much) enjoyed my time," he said. "Unfortunately, I will now have to leave the team, to go to the national duty.
"I have a lot of things I have to take back home – a lot of fun, a lot of positive things, so I have enjoyed it a lot.
"Especially, thank you to the Sydney Sixers fans; there is always support there, lot of support, lot of encourage(ment), a lot of fun, so I have very enjoyed that vibe at Sydney Cricket Ground, so thank you so much."
Babar (4,429 runs) is the all-time leading scorer in men's T20Is after overtaking India's Rohit Sharma during Pakistan's series against South Africa in November, but he hasn't been able to reach the same heights in his first stint in the Big Bash.
The Sixers are the only team with a Pakistani player still alive in BBL|15 and Babar's early departure perhaps eases a selection conundrum ahead of their clash with the Hurricanes.
While the 31-year-old has scored two half-centuries in his 202 runs opening the batting, his tournament strike rate of 103 is well below that of his teammates and opening partner's Steve Smith (172) and Daniel Hughes (129).
Babar has only hit three sixes and his tournament strike rate is the lowest in Big Bash history among players to have scored more than 200 runs in a season.
Commentator and former Australian batter Mark Waugh called for the Sixers to drop Babar when speaking on Fox Cricket prior to Wednesday's Hurricanes-Stars Knockout match.
"They need to rejiggle their batting, because at the moment it's almost entirely reliant on Steve Smith," Waugh said.
"At the moment there's not a lot of players in form, so I'm bringing in either (Daniel) Hughes or (Jordan) 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."
Veteran left-hander Hughes would be a direct swap at the top of the order having hit 60 earlier in the tournament opening alongside Babar, while captain Moises Henriques could also shift up to the top like he did against Stars on January 8 if the Sixers wanted to get Silk back in the middle order.
Both Hughes and Silk played in the Sixers most recent BBL title wins in BBL|09 and |10.
But like Perth Scorchers have done this season in backing their younger players such Mahli Beardman, Brody Coucy and Cooper Connolly, the Sixers also appear to have entrusted their next generation with greater responsibility with young guns Lachy Shaw, Joel Davies and Jack Edwards getting consistent game time.
"It's an exciting opportunity," Edwards said at the SCG today, "(we're) seeing the future that's there in Joel Davies and Lachy Shaw.
"We got thrown in the deep end the other night (in the Qualifier loss to the Scorchers) and didn't quite handle as well as we could have. But it's a learning opportunity and all we can do is take something away from it, try and get better and if we get put in that situation tomorrow night, hopefully we can take it."
Pakistan's Babar to miss Sixers' sudden-death BBL final | cricket.com.au
Sixers opener recalled immediately by his country ahead of T20 series against Australia
www.cricket.com.au
Varun
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A good move by the PCB, to take him out of the firing line before his confidence gets shot further.
The senior player culture of Pakistan got exposed badly in the BBL.
Usually, we have junior guys like Shadab and Harris playing in BBL, or guys like Tanvir and Arafat who know what the culture of Australian sports.
Babar only played for himself. He was only interested in getting his own runs on board, no effort what so ever. In the end, when he learned he is gonna get dropped, he pulls out. Thats the most pathetic thing you can do in Australia, and their players, writer and commentators tend to remember such things.
As for Rizwan. The t20 wicket keeper spot in the pakistan team is there for grabs. All you have to do is bat at no.6 and score runs aggressively. But i am just surprised how stubborn Rizwan is that he is not willing to change his spots. He still thinks he should be in the squad at the top order position.
Anyways, when you are stubborn and stupid, you lose your place in the national squad eventually
Usually, we have junior guys like Shadab and Harris playing in BBL, or guys like Tanvir and Arafat who know what the culture of Australian sports.
Babar only played for himself. He was only interested in getting his own runs on board, no effort what so ever. In the end, when he learned he is gonna get dropped, he pulls out. Thats the most pathetic thing you can do in Australia, and their players, writer and commentators tend to remember such things.
As for Rizwan. The t20 wicket keeper spot in the pakistan team is there for grabs. All you have to do is bat at no.6 and score runs aggressively. But i am just surprised how stubborn Rizwan is that he is not willing to change his spots. He still thinks he should be in the squad at the top order position.
Anyways, when you are stubborn and stupid, you lose your place in the national squad eventually
Usman Chadda
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It’s obvious he was being dropped and this was communicated to the PCB, who made up this garbage about pulling him out for international commitments.
These guys missed an international series during the BBL, you think PCB was pulling Babar out for a camp?
RidiculousMan
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RidiculousMan
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He was probably told he's getting dropped for the next game.
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Don't think so. This is the final series before World T20 so PCB would want all their best players to be prepping for World T20.
Hitman
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Apparently according to some Pakistani posters previously, IPL won't even be able to afford Babar Azam if Pakistani players were allowed in the action, right? 
Devadwal
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Official version: Babar Azam has been ruled out of the remaining BBL matches and will return to Pakistan to begin preparations for upcoming intl fixtures.
Reality : Babar Azam has been dropped from the BBL squad and will head back to Pakistan.
These are his Final Numbers in BBL
Innings : 11
Runs : 202
Avg : 22.44
SR : 103.06
Reality : Babar Azam has been dropped from the BBL squad and will head back to Pakistan.
These are his Final Numbers in BBL
Innings : 11
Runs : 202
Avg : 22.44
SR : 103.06
Devadwal
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And the last stage of humiliation. It has been a ride
Devadwal
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This season is nothing but a social experiment to see how much humiliation a cricketer can endure.
Sometime I just really feel bad for Babar but his
fans like @RizwanT20Champ etc comes in my mind so he deserve it.
Sometime I just really feel bad for Babar but his
fans like @RizwanT20Champ etc comes in my mind so he deserve it. 
iRfaN_LA
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so much hate from Indians. Not sure what motivates them for this hate.
As far as we are concerned, we criticize Babar where it's due. They denied single scenario was childish from
Babar. Babar is a good batsmen but he doesn't come close to a Pakistani superstar with character and flamboyance. I'm talking about legends like Imran, Wasim, Waqar, Saeed anwar, Inzi etc - the true superstars.
As far as we are concerned, we criticize Babar where it's due. They denied single scenario was childish from
Babar. Babar is a good batsmen but he doesn't come close to a Pakistani superstar with character and flamboyance. I'm talking about legends like Imran, Wasim, Waqar, Saeed anwar, Inzi etc - the true superstars.
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